Santa will not be the only person in the sky on Christmas Eve.
Mercury will shine brightly in the sky over Earth on Christmas Eve, reaching its peak altitude above the horizon before fading from the skies on Christmas day.
The closest planet to the sun will reach its highest point in the sky over the two days of Christmas, shining with a magnitude of -0.6.
You can see what you can see tonight.
There is an object in the solar system that can be seen from Earth. Depending on whether the planet is to the east or west of the sun, Mercury can appear in the morning or evening.
Mercury can be seen in the evening after the sun sets. It rises and sets before the sun and is seen shortly before sunrise when it is to the west. Mercury is visible to the east of the sun during the evening hours.
Mercury won't be a "star of Bethlehem" in the evening sky despite its increase in brightness. The smallest planet in the solar system isn't one of the most well-known.
It is better to act sooner rather than later. As Mercury passes between the sun and an inferior conjunction at the end of the December-to-January period, it will become less visible.
The illuminated sides of planets are turned away from Earth. They appear as thin crescents that are barely lit.
It is difficult to see Mercury during this thin crescent phase because it is only visible during twilight. It will be easier to find the closest planet to the sun in the days leading up to Christmas day than in the days following it.
Mercury is often obscured by the glare of light from the star, making it difficult to see. The best time to see Mercury is when it is farthest away from the sun.
The periods last for a few weeks at a time. Mercury was the furthest away from the sun during this current appearance.
We have guides for the best binoculars and telescopes to help you view Mercury or anything else in the sky. If you want to take the best skywatching images, we have recommendations for the best cameras andlenses.
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