{"id":30705,"date":"2022-03-28T12:28:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T12:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=46317"},"modified":"2022-03-28T12:39:16","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T12:39:16","slug":"see-mercury-return-to-the-evening-sky-in-april-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/see-mercury-return-to-the-evening-sky-in-april-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"See Mercury return to the evening sky in April 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 28 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

In April 2022 the Solar System\u2019s smallest planet Mercury reaches a favourable evening elongation, setting over two hours after the Sun.<\/p>\n

Mercury reaches superior conjunction on 2 April<\/strong>\u00a0when it appears to line up with the Sun on the far side of its orbit. Consequently, Mercury won\u2019t be visible at <\/span>the start of April.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

But its re-emergence into the evening sky throughout the res of the month is pretty spectacular, the planet appearing bright and distancing itself from the Sun rapidly.<\/p>\n

On 8 April<\/strong>, Mercury shines at mag. \u20131.6 and sets 35 minutes after sunset.<\/span><\/p>\n

By 12 April<\/strong>, just four days later, the planet will be setting a full 60 minutes after the Sun, having dimmed a bit to mag. \u20131.3 by that date.<\/span><\/p>\n

This pattern continues over the following days, Mercury reaching greatest eastern elongation on 29 April<\/strong> when it will be separated from the Sun by a respectable 20.6<\/span>\u02da.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
As April 2022 progresses, Mercury becomes an evening object, visible after sunset. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

On 29 April<\/strong>, Mercury shines at mag. +0.4 and sets 135 minutes after the Sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

On this date, Mercury sits 1.3\u02da south of the Pleiades<\/a> open cluster. for a beautiful conjunction<\/a> worthy of photographing.<\/p>\n

The Solar System\u2019s innermost planet, Mercury, never appears to wander very far from the Sun in the sky. As a consequence, it appears in the evening or morning twilight rather than against a truly dark sky.<\/p>\n

If you have a good flat west-northwest to northwest horizon, this will give the best view of Mercury with the Pleiades.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mercury appears 1.3\u02da south of the Pleiades on 29 April 2022. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

As the pair lose altitude the sky will appear darker, but this is countered by the thicker layer of atmosphere we have to look through close to the horizon, causing both objects to appear dimmer.<\/p>\n

A view of Mercury at the end of April through the eyepiece<\/a> of a telescope will reveal it as a tiny crescent.<\/p>\n

With an apparent diameter of 8 arcseconds on the evening of 30 April<\/strong>, Mercury will appear 33%-lit.<\/p>\n

Observing the planets in April 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The phase and relative sizes of the planets in April 2022. Each planet is shown with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Mercury<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n