Although the planet is rarely visible from Earth, you’ll actually be able to see Mercury with the naked eye in Illinois on three different days this year. So, mark your calendars for January 30, May 29, and September 22.

At only 34 million miles away, Mercury is the closest planet to the sun in our solar system. It’s also the smallest, about the size of Earth’s moon.
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By comparison, Earth’s average distance from the sun is more than 91 million miles.
The rocky surface of Mercury is constantly pummeled by solar radiation and averages around 354° Fahrenheit.
NASA, et al./Wikimedia Commons
Like our moon, Mercury has little atmosphere, which means not much could survive there (at least not as we understand life).
Its proximity to the sun also makes Mercury the fastest planet, as its name implies. It circles the sun once every 88 days.
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But this also makes it extremely difficult to observe from Earth, as most of the time you’d have to look directly toward the sun to see Mercury.

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Therefore, we have to wait for periods of maximum “elongation” to see Mercury.
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The planet’s maximum elongation occurs when its location in its orbit is at its steepest angle from the sun.
On the three days this year when Mercury is observable, look for a place where you can see an unobstructed horizon at sunset.
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Mercury will appear in the sky near where the disappears below the horizon.
Don’t use a telescope or binoculars to observe Mercury while any part of the sun is visible above the horizon.
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Doing so could cause serious damage to your eyes.

Mercury can be relatively dim in the sky, so getting away from cities or any place with lights that could wash out the sky after sunset is also a good idea. A spot along the Mississippi River may be favorable for viewing Mercury in the Land of Lincoln.

Do you plan to go out and see Mercury this year? Do you have any viewing tips to offer?

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