{"version":1,"generatedAt":"2026-10-28T10:38:56.207Z","kind":"greatest-elongation","name":"Mercury at greatest western elongation, 15 Jul 2027","at":"2027-07-15T19:30:00.000Z","planets":[{"name":"Mercury","magnitude":0.32}],"place":{"ra":6.155,"dec":20.75,"frame":"J2000","raUnit":"hours","decUnit":"degrees"},"degreesFromSun":20.7,"sky":"morning","elongationDeg":20.7,"litFraction":0.37,"visibility":{"longitude":0,"timeZone":"UTC","twilightSunAltitude":-6,"bands":[{"latitude":60,"verdict":"lost","summary":"It is below the horizon whenever the sky is dark","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T01:40:00.000Z","altitude":-1.1,"azimuth":42,"sunAltitude":-6.4}},{"latitude":45,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 7° up in the ENE at 03:50; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T03:50:00.000Z","altitude":6.7,"azimuth":67,"sunAltitude":-6.3}},{"latitude":30,"verdict":"clear","summary":"11° up in the ENE at 04:40","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T04:40:00.000Z","altitude":10.8,"azimuth":72,"sunAltitude":-6.5}},{"latitude":15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"13° up in the ENE at 05:10","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T05:10:00.000Z","altitude":12.7,"azimuth":72,"sunAltitude":-7.1}},{"latitude":0,"verdict":"clear","summary":"15° up in the ENE at 05:40","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T05:40:00.000Z","altitude":14.6,"azimuth":68,"sunAltitude":-6.1}},{"latitude":-15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"13° up in the ENE at 06:00","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T06:00:00.000Z","altitude":13.1,"azimuth":64,"sunAltitude":-6.8}},{"latitude":-30,"verdict":"clear","summary":"10° up in the ENE at 06:20","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T06:20:00.000Z","altitude":10,"azimuth":59,"sunAltitude":-7.7}},{"latitude":-45,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 6° up in the NE at 06:50; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2027-07-16T06:50:00.000Z","altitude":6.3,"azimuth":52,"sunAltitude":-7.6}}]},"links":{"page":"https://www.whatthestar.com/planets/mercury-greatest-elongation-2027-07-15","map":"https://www.whatthestar.com/explore?ra=6.155&dec=20.75&fov=40&t=2027-07-15T19%3A30%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"}]}