Mercury as August Morning Star

[Centaur]

The elusive little planet Mercury has begun its apparition as a morning star following its inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on 2012 JUL 28. This apparition will conclude with the planet’s superior conjunction behind the Sun on SEP 10.

My detailed article describing Mercury’s morning apparition appears under the links for my related graphics at www.CurtRenz.com/mercury

Photos and descriptions of Mercury during its current apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.

[Perikles]

I am always on the look-out for Mercury, and usually fail to spot it. Given that Venus and Jupiter are very prominent before sunrise at present, could you give a rough diagram (or just angular distances between the planets) indicating where Mercury will be relative to them around 16th August?

Now a really dumb question. You stress that the figures given are for Chicagoland. Am I right in thinking that the difference is negligible for naked-eye viewing when viewed from elsewhere on earth?

Edit: I've just been outside and seen that Venus and Jupiter are probably too far away from the horizon for this to be of much use.

[Centaur]

...could you give a rough diagram (or just angular distances between the planets) indicating where Mercury will be relative to them around 16th August?

...You stress that the figures given are for Chicagoland. Am I right in thinking that the difference is negligible for naked-eye viewing when viewed from elsewhere on earth?

Perikles, while my Mercury diagrams and descriptions are ideal for Chicagoland, they are highly accurate for anyone near my latitude of N 42° while at any longitude. They remain fairly good for anyone north of the tropics and south of the arctic.

You’ve chosen a date on which the Moon will be near Mercury, so that may be helpful. Below is a diagram created with my self-made software that previews the eastern sky at your location 45 minutes before sunrise on 2012 AUG 16. Good Luck!

[Perikles]

Thank you, that's very kind. I shall certainly be up at that time, and we have excellent chances of clear sky.

[Perikles]

I actually managed to see Mercury rising this morning. Not only that, but by placing a simple camera at the eyepiece of my astronomical binoculars, I even managed to take a very unimpressive photo. Mercury is the dot in the middle on the same level as the 1 of the 16 in the data/time stamp. Minutes later, I was able to see a very new moon rise as well. Many thanks to Centaur for the help given above!

[Perikles]

And this:

[Centaur]

I actually managed to see Mercury rising this morning. Not only that, but by placing a simple camera at the eyepiece of my astronomical binoculars, I even managed to take a very unimpressive photo. Mercury is the dot in the middle on the same level as the 1 of the 16 in the data/time stamp. Minutes later, I was able to see a very new moon rise as well. Many thanks to Centaur for the help given above!

You are most welcome, Perikles. I'm glad that you were able to spot Mercury and the very "old" Moon. Thank you for sharing your two fine photos.