Venus & Mercury

Finally a clearish western sky... separation 2.7°, 50 mins after sunset. Venus mag -3.4, Mercury -0.8



Finbarr.

I found them both tonight (Monday 19th March).
There are less than 6 degrees apart still.
I could see both planets Venus and Mercury in my 70 mm apochromatic refractor at 11X.
Venus' magnitude was -3.9. Mercury +0.5.
And yet Mercury is nearer to Earth. Distance: 120 million kms.
It was a good crescent phase at 112X in the main scope 27.5% illuminated.
Venus: 242 million kms from us. It looked almost full phase at 40X.
A 2 day old Crescent Moon was about 16 degrees in an easterly direction.
It was nice to see them all in clear skies.

Aubrey.

A 2.3 day moon seen with the duo this evening, 10 degrees from Venus. Mercury is already 4 days past greatest elongation, that was its best evening show of the year for us.



Finbarr.

Edit: glad you had a good view too Aubrey.