Best time to see Mercury in Los Angeles tonight
The best time to see Mercury in Los Angeles tonight is, honestly, not tonight: Mercury is only above the horizon while the sky is still too bright for it, so it isn't realistically visible. Wait for a better apparition, when it stands higher in a darker twilight and its light can cut through.
Los Angeles, CA · Monday, August 31
It is only above the horizon while the sky is too bright for it tonight.
- Lost in twilight: too faint for a bright sky
- AltitudeBelow the horizon
- BrightnessMag -1.5 · Brilliant
- Cloud coverNo forecast
- Sky darknessBortle 9 · Inner-city sky
Mercury is above the horizon tonight only while the sky is still too bright for it: no usable window. The best-night question below shows when it improves.
SKY DARKNESS
Bortle 9Bright inner-city sky: expect only the Moon, planets, and a handful of the very brightest stars. The Moon, planets and the ISS shine right through city glow.
WATCHING WITH
Common questions
Where exactly should I look?
Nowhere useful tonight: Mercury is above the horizon only while the sky is still too bright for it from Los Angeles, CA. Wait for a better apparition.
What's the exact best time?
There is no usable window tonight: Mercury is up only in bright twilight, too faint against the sky. Check back as its elongation from the Sun improves.
Do I need a telescope?
No, but binoculars help: Mercury hides in bright twilight near the horizon. Sweep with binoculars where the Sun set; a telescope adds little at that altitude.
Will clouds get in the way?
Tonight's cloud forecast is currently unavailable, so check the sky directly: bright planets show through all but solid overcast.
How bright is Mercury tonight?
Mercury shines at magnitude -1.5 tonight: as bright as the brightest stars. Planets shine with a steady light while stars twinkle; that steadiness is the giveaway.
When is the best night to see Mercury this week in Los Angeles?
Mercury has no usable night in this stretch: it is below the horizon after dark or lost in twilight every evening. Check back next week: the geometry shifts night to night.