{"version":1,"generatedAt":"2026-10-28T10:38:56.207Z","kind":"greatest-elongation","name":"Mercury at greatest eastern elongation, 24 Sep 2027","at":"2027-09-24T22:00:00.000Z","planets":[{"name":"Mercury","magnitude":0.14}],"place":{"ra":13.625,"dec":-13.11,"frame":"J2000","raUnit":"hours","decUnit":"degrees"},"degreesFromSun":26.3,"sky":"evening","elongationDeg":26.3,"litFraction":0.59,"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":"2027-09-24T18:40:00.000Z","altitude":-5.9,"azimuth":254,"sunAltitude":-6.5}},{"latitude":45,"verdict":"lost","summary":"Lost in the horizon's haze: 0° up at best once it is dark","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:30:00.000Z","altitude":0.1,"azimuth":251,"sunAltitude":-7.1}},{"latitude":30,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 7° up in the WSW at 18:20; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:20:00.000Z","altitude":7,"azimuth":250,"sunAltitude":-6.4}},{"latitude":15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"12° up in the WSW at 18:20","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:20:00.000Z","altitude":11.8,"azimuth":253,"sunAltitude":-6.9}},{"latitude":0,"verdict":"clear","summary":"16° up in the WSW at 18:20","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:20:00.000Z","altitude":15.8,"azimuth":256,"sunAltitude":-7}},{"latitude":-15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"19° up in the W at 18:20","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:20:00.000Z","altitude":18.8,"azimuth":261,"sunAltitude":-6.6}},{"latitude":-30,"verdict":"clear","summary":"18° up in the W at 18:30","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:30:00.000Z","altitude":18.3,"azimuth":265,"sunAltitude":-7.9}},{"latitude":-45,"verdict":"clear","summary":"19° up in the W at 18:30","best":{"at":"2027-09-24T18:30:00.000Z","altitude":19,"azimuth":270,"sunAltitude":-6.3}}]},"links":{"page":"https://www.whatthestar.com/planets/mercury-greatest-elongation-2027-09-24","map":"https://www.whatthestar.com/explore?ra=13.625&dec=-13.11&fov=40&t=2027-09-24T22%3A00%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"}]}