Mercury Ascents Along With Cresent Moon as Brilliant Venus Returns This Week; How to Watch It

This week starts with a New Moon, which is a magical time of the month for astronomers. Our satellite is lost in the light of the Sun since it is approximately between our Earth and the Sun. As a result, the nights are totally devoid of moonlight, making them perfect for stargazing and dark sky chasing.

(Photo: Youtube)
Five Planets Will Be Visible This Sunday Along With A Crescent Moon: Here's How To See Them Without A Telescope Photo credits: Screenshot from YouTube

Mercury, the smallest planet in the solar system, reaches its highest point in the atmosphere for the whole year of 2021 this week. It will make an odd appearance close to a crescent moon, while Mars will exit its current apparition as it, too, shines close to a slim crescent Moon.

Stargazers To See Three Planets, Moon on May 13 to 15

Thrillist said all three planets and the Moon would be visible in a relatively similar formation in the western sky on the nights of May 13 to 15, just after sunset. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see all of the inner planets and the Moon at the same time. To be fair, one of the inner planets is Earth, which is difficult to miss if you keep your eyes open.

Venus, Mars, and, in particular, Mercury are more challenging to detect. May, as we've previously stated, is an excellent month for viewing Mercury. Mercury can be difficult to spot because of its location in the solar system. It never rises too high above the horizon and is still close to the Sun. It is often lost in the Sun's rays during the brief time it is above the horizon just before sunrise or after sunset.

ALSO READ: Astronomy 2021: Your Guide to The Full Moons, Eclipses, and Meteor Showers This Year!

How to See Mercury, Venus, Moon

Mercury is currently visible low in the western sky shortly after sunset. That is when you can go out in search of these planets. To see Venus, which is just above the horizon, you'll have to look even lower in the atmosphere. As a result, you'll want to be stargazing from a location with a clear view along the western horizon, where trees or tall buildings won't block Venus or even Mercury.

Venus would be visible near the horizon, with Mercury sparkling brilliantly above it, about the brightness of a first-magnitude star. Red Mars can be seen much higher in the atmosphere. Those planets will be close together for a bit, but you'll be able to see them along with the crescent moon over the next few days.

Forbes also mentioned that stargazers would find a 16 percent-lit waxing crescent Moon above Mercury sinking. Mars is separated by less than 1.5º against the backdrop of the stars of Gemini. A few hours later, when this magnificent sight sinks into the western horizon, the two will appear even closer. Grab some binoculars if you can.

If you want to use the Moon as a guide to finding the planets, EarthSky has a graphic that shows where the Moon will be from May 12 to 15. You'll still be able to see the other three planets for a couple of nights after May 15, according to NASA's monthly What's Up video.