Close Approach of Mercury and Jupiter at Sat, 15 August 2026, 00:43
General information
The closest separation between Mercury and Jupiter will occur on Sat, 15 August 2026, 00:43, when they will be separated by roughly 0.552°. The close approach occurs while both objects are below the horizon and cannot be observed.
Visibility window
The close approach begins when their separation drops below 1.5°, around 04:38, and ends when their separation grows beyond 1.5°, around 20:26. Observers can see them in the sky during this interval.Elevation & direction at closest approach
At the moment of closest approach, Mercury and Jupiter will be approximately -17° above the horizon, in the Northwest.Constellation
At the time of the closest approach, both objects will be located in or near the constellation Cancer, making it easier to locate them in the night sky.Close Approch Dynamics
The map shows the event as it appears from your location. You can switch to Global view to see geocentric (Earth-centered) coordinates.
Close Approach Details
| Mercury | Jupiter | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 00:43 | |
| Angular separation (°) | 0.55 | |
| Geocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 51m 22s", Dec: 18° 43' 25s | RA: 08h 50m 55s", Dec: 18° 10' 54s |
| Topocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 51m 22s", Dec: 18° 43' 20s | RA: 08h 50m 55s", Dec: 18° 10' 53s |
| Distance | 1.2031 AU (179,981,198 km) | 6.2758 AU (938,846,317 km) |
| Angular Size | 5.6" | 31.4" |
| Altitude (°) | -17 | -17 |
| Azimuth (°) | -49 Northwest | -50 Northwest |
Track Mercury and Jupiter Relative Positions
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| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
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