an hour or so after sunset tonight.
• Southerly latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere will have a tougher time catching the moon and Mercury. At mid-southern latitudes, the moon and Mercury lurk sideways of the sun at sunset, so these worlds set quite soon after the sun. In contrast, mid-northern latitudes find the moon and Mercury pretty much straight above the sun at sunset, so they set way later after sunset than at southerly latitudes.
• Follow these simple instructions to view the moon and Mercury hovering over the western horizon at dusk and/or nightfall: First, find a level and unobstructed western horizon, remembering that west is in the direction of sunset. If you have a clear sky, the moon and Mercury should be visible (at northerly latitudes) to the unaided eye about 45 to 60 minutes after sunset. But if you can't see these two worlds with the eye alone, by all means use binoculars to get an eyeful of the attractive couple, the young moon and Mercury low in the western dusk after sundown!
• By the way, if you should happen to see a faint "star" below Mercury in your binoculars, that's actually no star at all. That's the planet Mars!
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