Mercury & Venus Greatest Elongation in 2026: Best Morning and Evening Views
Greatest elongation isn’t just a complex astronomy term — it’s your best chance to spot Mercury in the sky! Mercury reaches its next greatest elongation on April 3, so don’t miss the opportunity. Let the Sky Tonight app guide you to the perfect viewing moments: download it now and explore the night sky like never before! Plus, dive into our article on elongation and uncover the celestial mechanics behind these events.
Contents
- Mercury and Venus Greatest Future Elongation 2026
- What is elongation?
- Inferior and superior planets’ configurations
- Greatest elongation of Mercury and Venus: upcoming events (maximum elongation dates)
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- April 3, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation (best of 2026 ⭐)
- June 15, 2026: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
- August 2, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation
- August 15, 2026: Venus at greatest eastern elongation
- October 12, 2026: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
- November 20, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation
- January 3, 2027: Venus at greatest western elongation
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- Elongation and phases of the planets
- F.A.Q: Elongation in astronomy
- What is elongation in astronomy?
- What is the maximum elongation of Mercury? Is it 28 degrees?
- Greatest eastern vs. greatest western elongation — what’s the difference?
- When is Mercury visible in the night sky?
- Why are some Mercury elongations “better” than others?
- Is the greatest elongation the same as the greatest brilliancy?
- Elongation of planets: to sum up
👉At greatest elongation, Mercury and Venus appear farthest from the Sun in our sky — which is usually your best chance to spot them in twilight. Elongation is the angular distance between a planet and the Sun as seen from Earth, measured in degrees.
Mercury and Venus Greatest Future Elongation 2026
Use the table below to find the next greatest eastern elongation (best in the evening sky) and greatest western elongation (best in the morning sky) for Mercury and Venus.
Tip: The distance value matters. Mercury’s farthest possible distance from the Sun is 28°, but some elongations are much smaller and noticeably harder to observe.
| Date | Planet | Greatest elongation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2026 | Mercury | Western/Morning | 27°49′ |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Mercury | Eastern/Evening | 24°31′ |
| Aug 2, 2026 | Mercury | Western/Morning | 19°28′ |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Venus | Eastern/Evening | 45°53′ |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Mercury | Eastern/Evening | 25°09′ |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Mercury | Western/Morning | 19°37′ |
How to spot elusive Mercury at greatest elongation (quick guide):
- Look 30–60 minutes before sunrise (western elongation) or right after sunset (eastern elongation).
- Choose a location with a clear horizon (sea, field, rooftop).
- Mercury is usually easiest to observe when the ecliptic is steep to your horizon (often spring evenings and autumn mornings, depending on hemisphere).
Safety Tip: never sweep binoculars near the Sun; wait until the Sun is fully below the horizon (evening) or stay well before it rises (morning).
What is elongation?
In astronomy, elongation is the angular distance between a planet (or other Solar System body) and the Sun as seen from the Earth — measured in degrees. For example, an elongation of 90° means the object appears 90 degrees away from the Sun in our sky.
As the brightest object in the sky, the Sun can obscure any other star or planet. Knowing the Sun’s position, you can choose the best time for observations (when the object you want to see is farthest from the Sun). Let's look at what elongation is, using the Solar System planets as an example.
Key takeaways:
- Elongation distance matters mostly for Mercury and Venus, because they are never far away from the Sun.
- Greatest eastern elongation = best after sunset (evening).
- Greatest western elongation = best before sunrise (morning).
- “In the night sky” usually means twilight near the horizon, not late-night hours (especially for Mercury).
Inferior and superior planets’ configurations
The superior planets (planets that are farther from the Sun than the Earth), which include Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, can reach any value of elongation from 0 to 180 degrees. For the inferior planets (planets that are closer to the Sun than the Earth), which include Mercury and Venus, the maximum elongation is about 28 degrees for Mercury and about 48 degrees for Venus. That’s why relatively bright Mercury is so difficult to see — even at its best elongations, it stays relatively close to the Sun compared to Venus.
Some of the elongation values have specific names. Let’s go over them.
Solar conjunction
Solar conjunction is a celestial configuration in which the object has an elongation of 0 degrees, which means it is positioned at the same ecliptic longitude as the Sun, appearing very close to it in the sky. This alignment results in the object being obscured by sunlight, making it almost impossible to observe directly¹. Both superior and inferior planets can reach solar conjunction.
The terms “inferior solar conjunction” and “superior solar conjunction” are used in particular for Mercury and Venus. At inferior solar conjunction, the planet is between the Earth and the Sun. At superior solar conjunction, the planet is passing behind the Sun as seen from the Earth.
¹In rare cases, an inner planet can still be observed at conjunction during a transit, when it crosses the Sun’s disk as a tiny black dot. The next transit of Mercury is on November 13, 2032, and the next transit of Venus is on December 11, 2117.
Quadrature
Quadrature is a position where the Sun, Earth, and the object form a right angle. As a result, the object has an elongation of 90°. This means that when the Sun sets, the object is reaching its highest point in the sky. A good example of quadrature is the First Quarter Moon, as this phase occurs when the Moon is at a 90-degree angle from the Sun. Quadrature is only possible for the superior planets.
Opposition
Opposition is a celestial alignment where the object has an elongation of 180 degrees, which is the greatest elongation for the superior planets. During opposition, the object and the Sun lie on opposite sides of the Earth, so the object is fully illuminated by sunlight and visible throughout the night. Opposition is considered to be the best time for observing a celestial body. In the dedicated article, we have a list of celestial bodies — planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids — that will reach opposition soon.
Greatest elongation of Mercury and Venus: upcoming events (maximum elongation dates)
The inferior planets, Venus and Mercury, can’t be in quadrature and opposition because their orbits lie inside Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The greatest elongation possible for them is about 28 degrees for Mercury and 48 degrees for Venus. At greatest elongation, they are farthest from the Sun in the sky, so the skywatchers get a great opportunity to spot the planets. At greatest eastern elongation, Mercury and Venus are visible as evening objects. At greatest western elongation, they are visible as morning objects. Here's a list of the upcoming greatest elongations for Venus and Mercury.
April 3, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation (best of 2026 ⭐)
On April 3, at 22:32 GMT, Mercury (mag 0.3) will be at 27°49′ west of the Sun. The planet will be visible low in the pre-dawn sky in the constellation Aquarius, so start looking as twilight begins, with an unobstructed eastern horizon.
This is the year’s greatest elongation of Mercury, so don’t miss your chance to see this elusive planet! This will also be the best morning apparition of Mercury for the Southern Hemisphere in 2026.
Two more planets, Mars (mag 1.2) and Saturn (mag 0.9), will rise near Mercury. These planets are usually bright enough to be observed without optics, but this time they will be very close to the rising Sun, lost in its glare.
June 15, 2026: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
On June 15, at 19:58 GMT, Mercury (mag 0.5) will be at 24°31′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Gemini after sunset.
Two other bright planets, Jupiter (mag -1.8) and Venus (mag -3.9), will shine nearby. They are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. The New Moon will also be nearby, close to the horizon, but it will likely be difficult to see.
August 2, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation
On August 2, at 08:07 GMT, Mercury (mag 0.1) will be at 19°28′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Gemini before sunrise.
August 15, 2026: Venus at greatest eastern elongation
On August 15, at 06:31 GMT, Venus (mag -4.4) will be at 45°53′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Virgo after sunset. The same evening, a 10%-illuminated Moon will be nearby, creating a beautiful view in the sky.
October 12, 2026: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
On October 12, at 10:02 GMT, Mercury (mag 0.0) will be at 25°09′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Libra after sunset. A very thin, 5%-illuminated Moon will be nearby, close to the horizon. In southern locations, observers can also see brilliant Venus (-4.4) close by.
November 20, 2026: Mercury at greatest western elongation
On November 20, at 23:29 GMT, Mercury (mag -0.5) will be at 19°37′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Libra before sunrise. Above Mercury, see brilliant Venus (mag -4.8) in the constellation Virgo.
January 3, 2027: Venus at greatest western elongation
On January 3, at 17:58 GMT, Venus (mag -4.5) will be at 46°57′ from the Sun. The planet will be visible in the constellation Libra before sunrise. A 17%-illuminated Moon will shine nearby.
Elongation and phases of the planets
Just like the Moon, planets have phases. Although in space, half of a planet is always illuminated by the Sun, the portion of the illuminated side that we can see from Earth changes depending on the planet's elongation. These phases can be observed through a telescope, and Venus, the brightest planet, can even show its phases when viewed through binoculars.
Phases of the inferior planets
As shown in the image above, inferior planets go through a full cycle of phases: from new phase at inferior conjunction to quarter phases near greatest elongations and full phase at superior conjunction. However, observing the full and new phases is extremely challenging because during these phases the planets are lost in the Sun's glare. Thus, the visible phases range from crescent to gibbous.
Phases of the superior planets
Superior planets do not display a full range of phases, but only subtle transitions between gibbous and full phases. They appear fully illuminated during oppositions, which is the best time to observe them.
F.A.Q: Elongation in astronomy
What is elongation in astronomy?
Elongation in astronomy is the angular separation between a planet (or another Solar System body) and the Sun as seen from Earth, measured in degrees.
What is the maximum elongation of Mercury? Is it 28 degrees?
The maximum value of Mercury’s greatest elongation is about 28°. For Venus, the maximum value can reach 48°.
Greatest eastern vs. greatest western elongation — what’s the difference?
Eastern elongation means the planet is best seen after sunset; western elongation means best before sunrise.
When is Mercury visible in the night sky?
Mercury is visible only in evening or morning twilight and most of the time stays near the horizon; the planet rarely rises high above the horizon in a fully dark sky. Your best chances to see Mercury are around the greatest elongation.
Why are some Mercury elongations “better” than others?
Besides the elongation distance, visibility of Mercury depends on the tilt of the ecliptic and your latitude — some elongations place Mercury higher above the horizon than others.
Is the greatest elongation the same as the greatest brilliancy?
No, greatest elongation is not the same as greatest brilliancy:
- Greatest elongation is the moment when a planet is farthest from the Sun in the sky, meaning it has the maximum angular separation from the Sun as seen from Earth.
- Greatest brilliancy occurs when the planet’s apparent area of the sunlit part of the planet's disk is greatest.
For example, Venus typically reaches its greatest brilliancy between inferior conjunction and greatest elongation.
Elongation of planets: to sum up
Elongation is the angular distance between a planet (or other Solar System body) and the Sun in the sky. It is measured in degrees. Planetary phases and visibility depend on elongation, which is especially noticeable for inferior planets — Venus and Mercury. Want to find out when Mercury or Venus is visible from your location (tonight or this week)? Use the free Sky Tonight app. To learn the best times for viewing the superior planets, check out our article on opposition in astronomy.
Note from the authors: You might notice we focused here more on Mercury than on Venus. That’s because Mercury’s elongation from the Sun makes a bigger difference in how (and whether) you can spot it, while Venus is often bright and obvious even outside its maximum elongations. We put Mercury first, not out of favoritism, but because it’s easy to miss — and we want to improve your chances of seeing it. For more quick facts about this planet, try Mercury Quiz: Small Planet, Big Surprises.
