Mercury to get closest to bright star Regulus

The planet Mercury will be seen closest to bright star Regulus on the morning of the 9th September, when they will be separated by less than the width of a finger held at arm’s length, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

The best view is around 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise, when they will stand quite low in the east. Any building, or other obstructions along the horizon will however block Mercury and Regulus from view.

One consolation, though, is that Mercury will grow significantly brighter as is drops lower in the sky, helping you pluck it from the glow of morning twilight a few days longer - as long as your timing is just right.

StarDate magazine is published bi—monthly by The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory.