SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. — You could see a "star" shining brighter than usual Friday morning before the sun comes up.
However, it's not a star at all, but instead the conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter.
While the event will be visible to the naked eye, it'll be easier to see through binoculars or using a telescope.
You'll want to look up and to the southeast.
"The planets Jupiter and Mercury will appear at their closest to each other as morning twilight begins, appearing about 1.5 degrees above the horizon in the east-southeast," according to NASA.
According to EarthSky.org, the sun's innermost planet will then head 27.3 degrees west. That means you should be able to see Mercury before sunrise on Saturday, March 6. You'll have the best chance for the planet sighting if you live in the Southern Hemisphere.
This is the maximum angular separation Mercury and the sun will see all of 2021. Although there are six elongations that Mercury will make from the sun all of 2021.
According to EarthSky.org, those are:
- January 24, 2021: 18.6 degrees east of the sun
- March 6, 2021: 27.3 degrees west of the sun
- May 17, 2021: 22.0 degrees east of the sun
- July 4, 2021: 21.6 degrees west of the sun
- September 14, 2021: 26.8 degrees east of the sun
- October 25, 2021: 18.4 degrees west of the sun
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