{"version":1,"generatedAt":"2026-10-28T10:38:56.207Z","kind":"greatest-elongation","name":"Mercury at greatest western elongation, 20 Nov 2026","at":"2026-11-20T23:40:00.000Z","planets":[{"name":"Mercury","magnitude":-0.48}],"place":{"ra":14.48,"dec":-12.19,"frame":"J2000","raUnit":"hours","decUnit":"degrees"},"degreesFromSun":19.6,"sky":"morning","elongationDeg":19.6,"litFraction":0.6,"visibility":{"longitude":0,"timeZone":"UTC","twilightSunAltitude":-6,"bands":[{"latitude":60,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 8° up in the SE at 07:20; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T07:20:00.000Z","altitude":8.2,"azimuth":133,"sunAltitude":-6.2}},{"latitude":45,"verdict":"clear","summary":"11° up in the ESE at 06:30","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T06:30:00.000Z","altitude":11.1,"azimuth":120,"sunAltitude":-6.5}},{"latitude":30,"verdict":"clear","summary":"12° up in the ESE at 06:00","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T06:00:00.000Z","altitude":12.4,"azimuth":112,"sunAltitude":-6.9}},{"latitude":15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"13° up in the ESE at 05:40","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T05:40:00.000Z","altitude":13.1,"azimuth":107,"sunAltitude":-6.4}},{"latitude":0,"verdict":"clear","summary":"12° up in the ESE at 05:20","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T05:20:00.000Z","altitude":12.1,"azimuth":103,"sunAltitude":-6.1}},{"latitude":-15,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 8° up in the E at 04:50; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T04:50:00.000Z","altitude":7.9,"azimuth":101,"sunAltitude":-7.5}},{"latitude":-30,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 4° up in the ESE at 04:20; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T04:20:00.000Z","altitude":4,"azimuth":102,"sunAltitude":-7.3}},{"latitude":-45,"verdict":"lost","summary":"Lost in the horizon's haze: 0° up at best once it is dark","best":{"at":"2026-11-21T03:40:00.000Z","altitude":0.1,"azimuth":108,"sunAltitude":-6.1}}]},"links":{"page":"https://www.whatthestar.com/planets/mercury-greatest-elongation-2026-11-20","map":"https://www.whatthestar.com/explore?ra=14.48&dec=-12.19&fov=40&t=2026-11-20T23%3A40%3A00.000Z"},"sources":[{"name":"P. Bretagnon and G. Francou, VSOP87, the planetary theory the map draws, held to JPL’s DE441 within about an arcsecond over 1900–2100","url":"https://www.whatthestar.com/credits#method-planets"},{"name":"U.S. Naval Observatory and Sea and Sky’s Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events: the dates and angles the tests hold these to","url":"https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/"},{"name":"A. Mallama and J. Hilton (2018) and the Astronomical Almanac’s phase-angle series: the planets’ magnitudes","url":"https://www.whatthestar.com/credits#method-planets"},{"name":"J. Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms, ch. 25: the Sun, for the twilight each latitude is judged in","url":"https://www.whatthestar.com/credits#method-sun"}]}