Close Approach of Mercury and the Moon at Tue, 11 August 2026, 04:05
General information
The closest separation between Mercury and Moon will occur on Tue, 11 August 2026, 04:05, when they will be separated by roughly 1.978°. The close approach occurs during daylight, making observation difficult.
Visibility window
The close approach begins when their separation drops below 2°, around 03:33, and ends when their separation grows beyond 2°, around 04:37. 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 23° above the horizon, in the West.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 | Moon | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 04:05 | |
| Angular separation (°) | 1.98 | |
| Geocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 22m 01s", Dec: 19° 50' 14s | RA: 08h 24m 52s", Dec: 21° 41' 57s |
| Topocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 22m 02s", Dec: 19° 50' 10s | RA: 08h 28m 14s", Dec: 21° 11' 38s |
| Distance | 1.1157 AU (166,906,344 km) | 0.00243 AU (363,523 km) |
| Angular Size | 6" | 33' |
| Altitude (°) | 23 | 22 |
| Azimuth (°) | -82 West | -80 West |
Track Mercury and Moon Relative Positions
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