Glowing Venus and Elusive Mercury Before Dawn – How to See Them on November 25
Set an early alarm: on November 25, 2025, Venus and Mercury will appear above the southeastern horizon before dawn, forming a graceful pair in Libra. Venus blazes, Mercury hangs just above it – faint, but observable with binoculars. Grab the free Star Walk 2 app to locate the pair in your sky easily, and read on for all details!
Contents
- Venus & Mercury on November 25, 2025: Quick Facts
- Mercury-Venus Morning Pairing: Full Viewing Guide
- How to See and Photograph the Venus-Mercury Pairing?
- Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
- Venus and Mercury on November 25, 2025: Conclusion
Venus & Mercury on November 25, 2025: Quick Facts
- Best viewing time: November 25, 30-40 minutes before sunrise
- Direction: southeast
- Angular separation: ~1–2°
- Constellation: Libra
- Brightness: Venus -3.9 (appears as -0.8*), Mercury 2.2 (appears as 4.5)
- Altitude: up to 10° above the horizon
- The difference between the planets’ actual magnitude and how bright they appear to an observer is caused by atmospheric extinction – the thick layer of air near the horizon absorbs and scatters light, making celestial objects look dimmer.
Mercury-Venus Morning Pairing: Full Viewing Guide
Just before sunrise on November 25, the two inner planets, Venus and Mercury, will rise 10° away from the Sun. They will appear low in the southeastern sky in the constellation Libra, about 1–2° apart – roughly the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length.
What You Will See
Mercury will have a magnitude of 2.2, but near the horizon it will appear dimmer – around magnitude 4.5 – because of atmospheric extinction. In the Northern Hemisphere, it rises first and appears slightly higher in the sky, though it’s a challenging target for the naked eye. Use binoculars to see it as a faint, pale dot above the horizon, but be cautious: never point binoculars toward the Sun to avoid eye injury!
Venus will be much brighter at a magnitude of -3.9 (appearing around -0.8 near the horizon). It will glow just below Mercury, serving as an easy reference point. Venus stays visible well into daylight, while Mercury can only be seen for 20–30 minutes before sunrise because it quickly fades into the Sun's glare.
Mercury and Venus at Their Closest
On November 25, the planets reach their close approach and conjunction, appearing side by side in the morning sky:
- Close approach: 00:34 GMT (distance 0°58′)
- Conjunction: 04:51 GMT (distance 1°40′)
Note that the objects might not be above the horizon at those exact moments, but they’ll still look very close when they rise.
Read more: What Is a Planetary Conjunction?
When and Where to Look
On November 25, look low toward the southeastern horizon about 30–40 minutes before sunrise. Mercury will fade quickly into the sunlight, while Venus will remain visible for a bit longer, even to the naked eye in the brightening dawn sky.
At mid-northern latitudes, Mercury may be difficult to spot, but from the Southern Hemisphere, both planets appear higher and easier to observe. Choose a spot with an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as a rooftop, the seaside, or an open field, as both planets will remain quite close to the horizon.
To find out the exact viewing time in your area, use the Star Walk 2 app – just find Venus in search, and use the Time Machine feature to see when it rises above the horizon on the needed date.
Tip: If clouds cover the horizon on November 25, don’t worry! Try observing on one of the following mornings – the planets will still appear close together in the sky.
Find Venus & Mercury with Star Walk 2 (30-second guide)
- Open Star Walk 2 and allow location access so the app can adjust the sky map to your position.
- Tap the search icon and type “Venus.”
- Tap Venus to see where it is in the sky right now.
- Tap the Time Machine (clock icon in the top right), set the date to November 25, 2025, and adjust the time until the Sun is below the horizon and Venus is above it – that’s your best viewing time.
When you go outside, open the app again and select Venus. Point your device at the sky, and the map will automatically adjust to your view in real-time. Follow the on-screen arrow to see exactly where Venus is located in your sky right now. Once you spot Venus, use binoculars to scan the surrounding area – that’s where you’ll find Mercury.
Seen Venus and Mercury? Great – now find the rest! With the Planet Walk feature in Star Walk 2, you can locate every visible planet in seconds. It’s especially useful during planetary alignments, allowing you to spend less time searching and more time observing. Check out our article on the Planet Walk feature and learn how to explore the sky like a pro.
Explore planets with the Star Walk 2 app!
Skywatching Bonus: The Constellation Orion
The Venus–Mercury pairing is a sight worth catching on its own – but there’s more to enjoy! If you look west before sunrise, you may also spot the constellation Orion slowly descending toward the horizon, ending the night as Venus and Mercury light up the dawn sky.
How to See and Photograph the Venus-Mercury Pairing?
- By eye:
You’ll easily spot Venus, shining as a golden dot in the dawn sky. Mercury will be much fainter, but you may be able to spot it if you try hard enough. Use Venus as a reference point.
- With binoculars:
You will see Venus clearly, and may glimpse faint Mercury just below it (or above it if you view from the Southern Hemisphere). Both planets will fit within a single binocular field of view. Rest your arms or use a tripod to keep the image steady.
- With a telescope:
A small telescope (40–60×) can reveal Venus’s crescent phase and, in optimal visibility conditions, a glimpse of Mercury’s tiny disk.
- With a camera:
Mount your camera on a tripod, use short exposures (1/100–1/250 s), and set the ISO to 200–400. Venus and Mercury will appear as delicate points against the soft golden dawn.
- With a smartphone:
Keep your phone steady, set the ISO to 200–400, and keep the exposure under 1/100 s to avoid overexposure. Both planets will appear as bright dots low on the horizon.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
The Venus-Mercury pairing on November 25 offers a rare chance to observe Mercury and Venus shining together. These two inner planets are usually hidden in the Sun’s glare, but during this event, they will rise high enough before dawn. The proximity of the two planets also makes it easier to spot Mercury, as you can use bright Venus as a natural “guiding star.”
The scene is beautiful to observe and photograph and is visible from both hemispheres, with especially good views in the south. This is one of those fleeting moments in the sky that perfectly combine science and beauty.
Venus and Mercury on November 25, 2025: Conclusion
On November 25, look toward the southeastern horizon 30–40 minutes before sunrise. You will see bright Venus with the naked eye. With a pair of binoculars, you can also spot elusive Mercury nearby. Make sure you have an unobstructed horizon, and use the free Star Walk 2 app to guide your way.
Happy planet-watching!
