Young moon and Mercury after sunset

[elleng]

Tonight – November 19, 2017 – you have a skywatching challenge ahead of you if you live in North America. If you live in Europe, Asia and Indonesia, this same challenge might have to wait until the evening on November 20. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere … less of a challenge! You might see this sky scene – the young moon near the planet Mercury – both tonight and tomorrow.

From North America. Try catching the young moon and/or planet Mercury in the southwest sky after sunset on November 19. These two worlds will lurk close to the sunset point on your horizon, beneath the planet Saturn, at evening dusk. So don’t tarry when looking for the moon and Mercury! Chances are they will sink below your horizon before nightfall. Start your search no later than 45 minutes after sunset and bring along binoculars, if you have them.'

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-mercury-after-sunset-november-19?mc_cid=67ebd07d3c&mc_eid=927caa2752

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Not gonna happen near DC

Last edited Sun Nov 19, 2017, 05:33 PM - Edit history (2)

The sky clouded over after noon, and the wind's picking up.

I thought I had seen Mercury at sunrise earlier this week (before I consulted a table of rising and setting times for the planets). The object was definitely not a star, and it was where Mercury could have been, under the right circumstances. It was awfully bright for Mercury, though, and somewhat high above the horizon. The answer to the mystery -- I was looking at Jupiter. Mars was up in the southeast too.

There's a playground I go to when I'm looking for Mercury in the evening. The nearest trees are a few hundred feet off, so I can see Mercury for a long time.

I had been thinking about posting my astronomical observations. And so I have.

Thanks.

ETA: at 5:00 or 6: a.m., Leo is as high as it's ever going to be. I didn't see any meteorites, but it was too cold for me to spend a lot of time waiting for some to show up. I just watched for a minute or two.

[mercuryblues]

3. Fake news! LOL

I am never up at sunrise, nor can I be seen at a playground. I scare the kid's parents with offers of candy.

In all seriousness. Of course it is cloudy where I live and will miss this.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Mercury (assuming there really is one) is a tough planet to see.

I get to see it maybe only during two stretches per year.

A week here, and a week there, and that's it. The rest of the time it's just too close to the sun. I always get a kick out of seeing Mercury.

Nothing personal -- don't go getting the impression I'm stalking you at the mall.

[lunasun]

2. Thanks clear here and have my binoculars !

[elleng]

5. VERY windy still south of DC, and 'missed' it due to wind and low layer of clouds at the river.

MAYBE catch moon set. Will look.