{"version":1,"generatedAt":"2026-10-28T10:38:56.207Z","kind":"conjunction","name":"Mercury and Saturn 28′ apart, 20 Apr 2026","at":"2026-04-20T11:29:06.486Z","planets":[{"name":"Mercury","magnitude":-0.17},{"name":"Saturn","magnitude":0.81}],"place":{"ra":0.526,"dec":0.81,"frame":"J2000","raUnit":"hours","decUnit":"degrees"},"degreesFromSun":22.6,"sky":"morning","separationDeg":0.46,"visibility":{"longitude":0,"timeZone":"UTC","twilightSunAltitude":-6,"bands":[{"latitude":60,"verdict":"lost","summary":"The pair is below the horizon whenever the sky is dark","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T03:39:06.486Z","altitude":-6.9,"azimuth":77,"sunAltitude":-6.2}},{"latitude":45,"verdict":"lost","summary":"The pair is below the horizon whenever the sky is dark","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T04:29:06.486Z","altitude":-1.3,"azimuth":88,"sunAltitude":-7.1}},{"latitude":30,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 5° up in the E at 04:59; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T04:59:06.486Z","altitude":4.7,"azimuth":92,"sunAltitude":-6.9}},{"latitude":15,"verdict":"low","summary":"Low: 10° up in the E at 05:19; a clear, flat horizon needed","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T05:19:06.486Z","altitude":9.9,"azimuth":92,"sunAltitude":-6.4}},{"latitude":0,"verdict":"clear","summary":"13° up in the E at 05:29","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T05:29:06.486Z","altitude":12.5,"azimuth":89,"sunAltitude":-7.3}},{"latitude":-15,"verdict":"clear","summary":"14° up in the E at 05:39","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T05:39:06.486Z","altitude":14.2,"azimuth":85,"sunAltitude":-7.7}},{"latitude":-30,"verdict":"clear","summary":"15° up in the E at 05:49","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T05:49:06.486Z","altitude":14.5,"azimuth":80,"sunAltitude":-7.8}},{"latitude":-45,"verdict":"clear","summary":"15° up in the ENE at 06:09","best":{"at":"2026-04-20T06:09:06.486Z","altitude":14.9,"azimuth":73,"sunAltitude":-6.4}}]},"links":{"page":"https://www.whatthestar.com/planets/mercury-saturn-conjunction-2026-04-20","map":"https://www.whatthestar.com/explore?ra=0.526&dec=0.81&fov=40&t=2026-04-20T11%3A29%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"}]}