The International Year of Astronomy opens with Mercury and Jupiter next to each other in the southwest shortly after sunset. Both Mercury and its inner-planet sibling, Venus, reach greatest elongation this month. There’s no better time to view these two worlds. Venus stands far above Mercury, and a waxing crescent Moon accompanies them during the year’s first week.
Venus and Mercury peak
January 2009: Both Mercury and its inner-planet sibling, Venus, reach greatest elongation this month. There's no better time to view these two worlds.
