Want to know the moon’s setting time in your sky?
Live in the U.S. or Canada? Click on Old Farmer’s Almanac.
For virtually anywhere worldwide, try TimeandDate for moonset times.
Note that setting times, on both sources listed above, presume a level horizon.
Here are the
approximate setting times for Mercury over the next several days at various latitudes:
40 degrees north latitude: Mercury sets 1 1/4 hours (1 hour and 15 minutes) after the sun
Equator (0 degrees latitude): Mercury sets 1 1/10 hours (1 hour and 6 minutes) after the sun
35 degrees south latitude: Mercury sets 1 hour (60 minutes) after the sun
Given clear skies and an unobstructed horizon, chances are that you’ll see both the moon and the planet Mercury with the eye alone. If you miss the skinny, pale crescent on January 14, try again on January 15 and 16, as a wider and brighter lunar crescent shines higher up at sundown and stays out longer after dark. Keep in mind that the illuminated side of the waxing crescent moon will be pointing right at Mercury.