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Planet: Mercury

Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, which is the reason it is not easy to see most of the time. But twice a year, it's higher position in the sky makes it easy to spot.

Between February 10 - 20, Mercury will be high and bright enough to see up to an hour after sunset. Use binoculars and look where the Sun went down. Be careful to NEVER look directly at the Sun, especially with binoculars!

Move your mouse over the star chart to see a close up picture of Mercury. You will see how it is battered with craters.

Click for a more detailed photo

When you find Mercury, look up and toward the south (left).

You will find three more planets - Mars (not too bright, but definitely red), then Jupiter (the brightest "star" in that part of the sky), then Saturn.

The moon may also be there, but moving to the east (left) each day.

This is a very rare time when you can see four planets at the same time!

Back To KID SPACE This page last modified: February 13, 2000

For comments or suggestions on this planet page, please write to Chris Teron

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