Close Approach of Mercury and the Moon at Tue, 17 March 2026, 05:46
General information
The closest separation between Mercury and Moon will occur on Tue, 17 March 2026, 05:46, when they will be separated by roughly 1.761°. The close approach occurs during daylight, making observation difficult.
Visibility window
The close approach begins when their separation drops below 2°, around 04:07, and ends when their separation grows beyond 2°, around 07:22. 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 24° above the horizon, in the West-Southwest.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 | 05:46 | |
| Angular separation (°) | 1.76 | |
| Geocentric Coordinates | RA: 22h 39m 43s", Dec: -6° 33' 16s | RA: 22h 43m 06s", Dec: -8° 06' 03s |
| Topocentric Coordinates | RA: 22h 39m 43s", Dec: -6° 33' 25s | RA: 22h 45m 32s", Dec: -8° 45' 01s |
| Distance | 0.65607 AU (98,146,675 km) | 0.00254 AU (379,979 km) |
| Angular Size | 10.3" | 31' |
| Altitude (°) | 26 | 23 |
| Azimuth (°) | -122 West-Southwest | -122 West-Southwest |
Track Mercury and Moon Relative Positions
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| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
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