Cool Mercury / Neptune conjuction coming up

[Stonius]

Cool conjunction coming up between the innermost and outermost planets in our solar system (sorry Pluto!).

On Feb 19th they'll be within the same (wide) field of view.

Mercury will be close to greatest elongation and greatest illumination.

I wonder how difficult it will be to make out 8th magnitude Neptune in the sunset?

Worth a try anyway.

Markus

[glend]

Also on the 19th, Venus is 1 degree North of Saturn, according to the Astronomy Calendar.

[Stonius]

That's great! Though I think it's closest on the 18th? Which Astronomy calendar are you referring to?

Best,

Markus

[glend]

The one on my wall in the observatory. The one sold by Bintel, the 2019 Astronomy Calendar.
Looking at Sky Safari, it seems there is very little difference between the separation on the morning of the 18th and the 19th. They are above 20 degrees Alt after 5am on both days.

[Stonius]

Ooh, looks like there'll be an even closer one on April 3rd - 22 Arcmin apart!

[skysurfer]

Indeed a nice conjunction !

I'll be in South Queensland at that time in my upcoming Oz trip.

Nice favorable position, here a screenshot at 19 Feb 4:00 AEST.

But the Mercury-Neptune conjunction is an evening event, but very unfavorable, too close to the Sun to discern Neptune (neuther in Oz, nor in EU or any place on Earth).