Mercury occultation by the Moon
General information
The closest separation between Mercury and Moon will occur on Wed, 18 February 2026, 13:10, when they will be separated by roughly 0.119°. The close approach occurs during daylight, making observation difficult.
Visibility window
The close approach begins when their separation drops below 2°, around 09:19, and ends when their separation grows beyond 2°, around 16:59. Observers can see them in the sky during this interval.Elevation & direction at closest approach
At the moment of closest approach, Mercury and Moon will be approximately 43° above the horizon, in the Southeast.Constellation
At the time of the closest approach, both objects will be located in or near the constellation Aquarius, 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 | Moon | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 13:10 | |
| Angular separation (°) | 0.12 | |
| Geocentric Coordinates | RA: 23h 15m 40s", Dec: -3° 41' 30s | RA: 23h 15m 54s", Dec: -3° 47' 48s |
| Topocentric Coordinates | RA: 23h 15m 40s", Dec: -3° 41' 36s | RA: 23h 14m 34s", Dec: -4° 25' 54s |
| Distance | 0.96008 AU (143,625,924 km) | 0.00254 AU (379,979 km) |
| Angular Size | 7" | 31' |
| Altitude (°) | 43 | 42 |
| Azimuth (°) | 144 Southeast | 144 Southeast |
Track Mercury and Moon Relative Positions
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| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe changing position in the night sky.