Tuesday,  August 14, 2012 • Vol. 13--No. 031 • 17 of 38 •  Other Editions

gins to give way to dawn. If you have a level horizon and a clear sky, you might first see Mercury somewhere around 80 to 60 minutes before sunrise at mid-northern latitudes. At more southerly latitudes, Mercury rises even closer to sunup.
• Rising time for the sun and Mercury in your sky
• Mercury is said to be elusive because it always stays near the sun in our sky. And yet this planet shines as brilliantly as the brightest stars. On August 15, this world will be sitting so low in the murk of morning twilight that it might - or might not - be easy to spot Mercury with the eye alone. If you have binoculars, bring them outside with you, for they help out immensely with any Mercury quest. You'll also definitely need an unobstructed view to the eastern horizon.
• On the other hand, if it's clear, you will have absolutely no difficulty seeing Venus and Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter rank as the second-brightest and third-brightest celestial bodies in all the heavens, after the sun and moon. Moreover, Venus and Jupi

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