Mercury and the Moon

Mercury is the most difficult of all the "bright" planets to spot. A good opportunity to identify this little world comes on Wednesday morning, August 15. At 5:45 a.m., look to the east for the thin crescent moon hovering far below brilliant Venus. To the moon's lower left shines an object — Mercury — almost lost in the morning hazy twilight. To the moon's lower right, shines another object, the bright star Procyon, again, almost lost in the twilight. Mercury might appear a little brighter than Procyon.

Bring out the binoculars for an easier, more definitive view.

Such is our view from Earth...