Mercury turned seen close to the dawn level round the previous few days of September 2022. It’ll be brightest earlier than dawn from early to mid-October.
When to observe: October 2022 is a good month for Mercury! That’s, it’s nice in the event you’re within the Northern Hemisphere, the place the ecliptic (the inexperienced line on our chart above) makes a steep angle with the japanese predawn horizon. Best elongation – when Mercury will likely be farthest from the dawn on our sky’s dome – is on October 8. However the planet will proceed getting brighter after that. So, later in October, though it’ll be edging again towards the dawn, Mercury will likely be simpler to identify within the morning twilight.
The place to look: Look within the dawn path, because the sky is lightening.
Best elongation is at 21 UTC on October 8, 2022.
Be aware: As soon as you see it, discover that Mercury brightens shortly in early October, reaching -0.6 magnitude by October 8. It’ll brighten to -1.1 magnitude close to the tip of October. What enjoyable!
Mercury in Southern Hemisphere in October 2022
At best elongation in October 2022
– Mercury’s distance from the sun on the sky’s dome is 18 degrees.
– Mercury shines at magnitude -0.6 at elongation, and can attain -1.1 magnitude till it slips away within the morning glare at the start of November.
– Via a telescope on October 8, Mercury seems 51% illuminated, in a waxing gibbous phase, and 7 arcseconds throughout. By the way in which, it will likely be nearly 100% illuminated by the tip of October 2022.
For exact sun and Mercury rising occasions at your location:
Old Farmer’s Almanac (U.S. and Canada)
timeanddate.com (worldwide).
Stellarium (on-line planetarium program)
Mercury occasions in 2022 and 2023
Sep 23, 2022: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Oct 8, 2022: Best elongation (morning)
Nov 8, 2022: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Dec 21, 2022: Best elongation (night)
Jan 7, 2023: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Jan 30, 2023: Best elongation (morning)
Mar 17, 2023: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Apr 11, 2023: Best elongation (night)
Heliocentric view of Mercury October 2022
A comparability of elongations
Not all of Mercury’s best elongations are created equal. Some are better than others. The farthest from the sun that Mercury can ever seem on the sky’s dome is about 28 degrees. The least distance is round 18 levels.
Elongations are additionally higher or worse relying on the time of yr they happen. The October 2022 elongation is healthier from the Northern Hemisphere than the Southern Hemisphere. As an example, the night apparition of Mercury on August 27, 2022, was difficult for the Northern Hemisphere, nevertheless it nice for the Southern Hemisphere.
Within the autumn for both hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a slim angle to the horizon within the night. Nevertheless it makes a steep slant, almost perpendicular, within the morning. So – in autumn from both hemisphere – morning elongations of Mercury are finest. Then Mercury seems increased above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. Night elongations in autumn are more durable to see.
Backside line: Look ahead to Mercury within the east earlier than sunup in October 2022. Mercury reaches best elongation – its best distance from the dawn – on October 8 and stays vivid by way of the tip of the month.
