You can catch Mercury's big light show. It's called the greatest elongation. Saleen Martin, USA TODAYAugust 19, 2025 at 4:20 AM August is full of celestial events, and this week marks a milestone for the 4.503 billionyearold planet known as Mercury.
- - You can catch Mercury's big light show. It's called the greatest elongation.
Saleen Martin, USA TODAYAugust 19, 2025 at 4:20 AM
August is full of celestial events, and this week marks a milestone for the 4.503 billion-year-old planet known as Mercury.
Being such a small planet that lies close to the sun, Mercury can be difficult to see. That'll change on Aug. 19, when planet-gazers on Earth can look up and see Mercury at its greatest distance from the sun, according to Time and Date.
This period where it is farthest from the sun, called the greatest elongation, happens twice every 116 days or so (or about every four months), reported Time and Date.
Elongation is essentially how far apart the sun and a planet appear when we look at them in the sky, the Pierce College Science Dome in western Washington shared on social media.
Because the planet appears farthest from the sun, the sun's glare doesn't impede our ability to see the planet as much, the college said.
More on greatest elongation and why it happens so often
A view of the planet Mercury and the sun from space.
According to Pierce College, there are multiple types of greatest elongations, including:
Greatest eastern elongation: The planet is most visible in the evening just after sunset.
Greatest western elongation: The planet is most visible in the morning just before sunrise.
The one space enthusiasts will see on Aug. 19 is the greatest elongation west, best visible in the morning, according to Time and Date. The next greatest elongation east will occur on Oct. 29, making Mercury most visible in the evening, Time and Date said.
According to Pierce College, Mercury reaches its greatest elongation six or seven times a year. Other planets such as Venus reach greatest elongation only twice per year, the college said. This is because Mercury orbits closer to the sun, and it doesn't take as much time for the planet to make an entire orbit around the sun.
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How can I see Mercury at its greatest elongation?
The best time to see Mercury during its greatest elongation is about 30 minutes before sunrise, according to EarthSky. It's best to look in the direction of the sunrise as the sky gets lighter.
According to Time and Date, those wanting to see Mercury should be cautious.
"Never point binoculars or a telescope in the direction of the Sun," the website warns. "It can cause permanent eye damage. Do not try to observe Mercury while any part of the Sun is above the horizon."
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mercury greatest elongation reaches farthest point from sun on Aug. 19
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