Mercury ends its prograde motion and prepares to enter retrograde in Libra the Balance — spot it after sunset if you’re quick.

| Published: October 24, 2026

Mercury hangs just 1° above the western horizon half an hour after sunset on October 24. Look for the stars of Scorpius in the southwest to help guide you toward the planet’s position. Credit: Stellarium

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October 23: Nab Neptune near the Moon

Mercury reaches a stationary point in Libra at 8 A.M. EDT. The tiny planet is only briefly visible after sunset, but if you’ve got a clear horizon, give it a try. Look west roughly 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, and scan for a magnitude 0.5 point of light just above the horizon. Mercury is 2.5° high in the southwest 20 minutes after sunset, and 1° high in the west 10 minutes later. You may want to try sweeping the area slowly with binoculars, but make sure the Sun has set completely below the horizon before pulling out any optical aid.…