Mercury as a Springtime Evening Star

[CentaurZ]

Elusive Mercury has commenced its apparition in the western sky after sunset following its superior conjunction behind the Sun on 2024 FEB 28. This is the most favorable Mercury apparition of 2024 for observers north of the tropics.

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

Edited March 10 by CentaurZ

[mikeDnight]

 I find Mercury fascinating when I can see it. There's enough albedo detail to make it interesting to a planetary observer armed with a 4" refractor or similar aperture scope. The challenge for me is in getting a cloud free view of the horizon low in the west. 

[Stu]

Spotted tonight, low down between the houses.

[maw lod qan]

On the night of the 20th I could spot it low on the horizon, bright enough it was visible thru the red colored thin clouds of the sunset.

But I was more interested in trying to find the comet.

[Captain Scarlet]

Got it properly naked eye tonight, brilliant.

 

[Littleguy80]

Finally managed to catch Mercury tonight. Showing it’s phase well through the scope  

[mikeDnight]

Well I made the effort and braved the bitter cold and freezing winds, and saw Mercury - briefly - using a 24mm ultra flat just to centre the planet. Then once in the centre of the field, I swapped the 24 for the 3-8 zoom. During that interchange of eyepieces a cloud covered the planet, and despite waiting patiently for what seemed like ages, the cloud remained stationary. So the lonely field trip ended up being a waste of time. 

[Littleguy80]

Caught Mercury in binoculars and the scope tonight. A tiny crescent now, just 15% illuminated according to SkySafari. Just poking through the low lying cloud in the picture 

[Mr Spock]

Got it a few nights ago. I had to drive 15 mins out west to higher ground. Too many houses here.

I saw it first with the 12x36is bins around 19:00, then naked eye about 19:20. I wish I'd taken a scope with me.

[Kon]

I managed to see and image Mercury on the 29th March.

 

 

[Littleguy80]

I hesitate to share this as my eyepiece looks so dirty but I did take a quick snap of Mercury through the scope on 24th March. Showing a nice phase

[MartianHill]

4 minutes ago, Littleguy80 said:

I hesitate to share this as my eyepiece looks so dirty but I did take a quick snap of Mercury through the scope on 24th March. Showing a nice phase

Baader wonder fluid will sort the dirt out 👍

[Littleguy80]

2 minutes ago, MartianHill said:

Baader wonder fluid will sort the dirt out 👍

First thing I did when I came in 😂