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Ephemeris 2005-2023
Venus is visible for about 8 months before its greatest Eastern elongation date (evening apparition) and for a further 2½ months afterwards, after which it disappears into the evening twilight. For morning apparitions, it is visible for about 2½ months before its greatest Western elongation and for a further 8 months afterwards, following which it disappears into the morning twilight. Its greatest brilliance occurs about 5 weeks after greatest Eastern elongation (evening apparition) and about 5 weeks before greatest Western elongation (morning apparition).
In the following list, greatest elongation details are given in brackets in the format "Solar elongation, Constellation". Hence "45º, Psc" means "45º from the Sun, in the constellation Pisces". Its elongation from the Sun at dates other than greatest elongation can be estimated on the basis that the angular elongation is 0º at inferior and superior conjunction (Venus typically remains close to its greatest elongation for about a week or two before and after the greatest elongation date).
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 SupCon: Mar 31, GE(E) Eve: Nov 3 (47º, Sgr). 2006 InfCon: Jan 13, GE(W) Mor: Mar 25 (46º, Aqr), SupCon: Oct 27. 2007 GE(E) Eve: Jun 9 (45º, Cnc), InfCon: Aug 18, GE(W) Mor: Oct 28 (46º, Leo). 2008 SupCon: Jun 9. 2009 GE(E) Eve: Jan 14 (47º, Aqr), InfCon: Mar 27, GE(W) Mor: Jun 5 (45º, Psc). 2010 SupCon: Jan 11, GE(E) Eve: Aug 20 (46º, Vir), InfCon: Oct 29. 2011 GE(W) Mor: Jan 8 (47º, Lib), SupCon: Aug 16. 2012 GE(E) Eve: Mar 27 (46º, Ari), InfCon: Jun 6*, GE(W) Mor: Aug 15 (46º, Gem). 2013 SupCon: Mar 28, GE(E) Eve: Nov 1 (47º, Oph). 2014 InfCon: Jan 11, GE(W) Mor: Mar 22 (46º, Aqr), SupCon: Oct 25. 2015 GE(E) Eve: Jun 6 (45º, Cnc), InfCon: Aug 15, GE(W) Mor: Oct 26 (46º, Leo). 2016 SupCon: Jun 6. 2017 GE(E) Eve: Jan 12 (47º, Aqr), InfCon: Mar 25, GE(W) Mor: Jun 3 (46º, Psc). 2018 SupCon: Jan 9, GE(E) Eve: Aug 17 (46º, Vir), InfCon: Oct 26. 2019 GE(W) Mor: Jan 6 (47º, Lib), SupCon: Aug 14. 2020 GE(E) Eve: Mar 24 (46º, Ari), InfCon: Jun 3, GE(W) Mor: Aug 13 (46º, Ori). 2021 SupCon: Mar 26, GE(E) Eve: Oct 29 (47º, Oph). 2022 InfCon: Jan 9, GE(W) Mor: Mar 20 (46º, Cap), SupCon: Oct 22. 2023 GE(E) Eve: Jun 4 (45º, Cnc), InfCon: Aug 13, GE(W) Mor: Oct 23 (46º, Leo).
* A transit of Venus across the Sun took place. For details see here.
Ephemeris 2005-2023
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 Opp: Apr 3 (Vir), SupCon: Oct 22. 2006 Opp: May 4 (Lib), SupCon: Nov 22. 2007 Opp: Jun 5 (Oph), SupCon: Dec 23. 2008 Opp: Jul 9 (Sgr). 2009 SupCon: Jan 24, Opp: Aug 14 (Cap). 2010 SupCon: Feb 14, Opp: Sep 21 (Psc). 2011 SupCon: Apr 6, Opp: Oct 29 (Ari). 2012 SupCon: May 13, Opp: Dec 3 (Tau). 2013 SupCon: Jun 19. 2014 Opp: Jan 5 (Gem), SupCon: Jul 24. 2015 Opp: Feb 6 (Cnc), SupCon: Aug 26. 2016 Opp: Mar 8 (Leo), SupCon: Sep 26. 2017 Opp: Apr 7 (Vir), SupCon: Oct 26. 2018 Opp: May 9 (Lib), SupCon: Nov 26. 2019 Opp: Jun 10 (Oph), SupCon: Dec 27. 2020 Opp: Jul 14 (Sgr). 2021 SupCon: Jan 29, Opp: Aug 19 (Cap). 2022 SupCon: Mar 5, Opp: Sep 26 (Psc). 2023 SupCon: Apr 11, Opp: Nov 3 (Ari).
Ephemeris 2005-2023
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 Opp: Nov 7 (Ari). 2006 SupCon: Oct 23. 2007 Opp: Dec 24 (Gem). 2008 SupCon: Dec 5. 2010 Opp: Jan 29 (Cnc). 2011 SupCon: Feb 4. 2012 Opp: Mar 3 (Leo). 2013 SupCon: Apr 17. 2014 Opp: Apr 8 (Vir). 2015 SupCon: Jun 14. 2016 Opp: May 22 (Sco). 2017 SupCon: Jul 26. 2018 Opp: Jul 27 (Cap). 2019 SupCon: Sep 2. 2020 Opp: Oct 13 (Psc). 2021 SupCon: Oct 8. 2022 Opp: Dec 8 (Tau). 2023 SupCon: Nov 18.
Greatest Elongation Dates 2005-2023
Mercury is easiest to see when it reaches greatest elongation, however it can normally be seen for several days either side of this date. A flat, unobstructed horizon is required to see it. In the following list, details are given in the format "Solar elongation, Constellation, Favourable Viewing Hemisphere". Hence "21º, Tau, NHem" means "21º from the Sun, in the constellation Taurus, best seen from the Northern Hemisphere". The constellation in which Mercury is located is rarely visible because of twilight, however it can be used as an aid in determining the direction in which to look for the planet (times of local sunrise, sunset and twilight can be obtained from TimeandDate.com).
Morning Apparition (Western Elongation):
2005 Apr 26 (27º, Cet, SHem), Aug 23 (18º, Cnc, NHem), Dec 12 (21º, Lib)
2006 Apr 8 (27º, Aqr, SHem), Aug 7 (19º, Gem), Nov 25 (20º, Lib, NHem)
2007 Mar 22 (27º, Aqr, SHem), Jul 20 (20º, Gem), Nov 8 (19º, Vir, NHem)
2008 Mar 3 (27º, Cap, SHem), Jul 1 (21º, Tau, SHem), Oct 22 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2009 Feb 13 (26º, Sgr, SHem), Jun 13 (23º, Tau, SHem), Oct 6 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2010 Jan 27 (27º, Sgr), May 26 (25º, Ari, SHem), Sep 19 (17º, Leo, NHem)
2011 Jan 9 (23º, Oph), May 7 (26º, Psc, SHem), Sep 3 (18º, Leo, NHem), Dec 23 (22º, Oph, NHem)
2012 Apr 18 (27º, Psc, SHem), Aug 16 (18º, Cnc, NHem), Dec 4 (20º, Lib, NHem)
2013 Mar 31 (28º, Aqr, SHem), Jul 30 (19º, Gem), Nov 18 (19º, Vir, NHem)
2014 Mar 14 (27º, Cap, SHem), Jul 12 (21º, Ori), Nov 1 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2015 Feb 24 (27º, Cap, SHem), Jun 24 (22º, Tau, SHem), Oct 16 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2016* Feb 7 (25º, Sgr, SHem), Jun 5 (24º, Ari, SHem), Sep 28 (18º, Leo, NHem)
2017 Jan 19 (24º, Sgr, SHem), May 17 (25º, Psc, SHem), Sep 12 (18º, Leo, NHem)
2018 Jan 1 (22º, Oph), Apr 29 (27º, Cet, SHem), Aug 26 (18º, Cnc, NHem), Dec 15 (21º, Lib, NHem)
2019† Apr 11 (27º, Aqr, SHem), Aug 9 (19º, Cnc, NHem), Nov 28 (20º, Lib, NHem)
2020 Mar 24 (27º, Aqr, SHem), Jul 22 (20º, Gem), Nov 10 (19º, Vir, NHem)
2021 Mar 6 (27º, Cap, SHem), Jul 4 (21º, Tau), Oct 25 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2022 Feb 16 (26º, Cap, SHem), Jun 16 (23º, Tau, SHem), Oct 8 (18º, Vir, NHem)
2023 Jan 30 (25º, Sgr, SHem), May 29 (25º, Ari, SHem), Sep 22 (18º, Leo, NHem)
Evening Apparition (Eastern Elongation):
2005 Mar 12 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jul 9 (26º, Cnc, SHem), Nov 3 (23º, Sco)
2006 Feb 24 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jun 20 (24º, Gem, SHem), Oct 17 (24º, Lib, SHem)
2007 Feb 7 (18º, Aqr, NHem), Jun 2 (23º, Gem), Sep 29 (26º, Vir, SHem)
2008 Jan 22 (18º, Cap), May 14 (21º, Tau, NHem), Sep 11 (26º, Vir, SHem)
2009 Jan 4 (19º, Cap), Apr 26 (20º, Tau, NHem), Aug 24 (27º, Vir, SHem), Dec 18 (20º, Sgr, SHem)
2010 Apr 8 (19º, Ari, NHem), Aug 7 (27º, Sex, SHem), Dec 1 (21º, Sgr, SHem)
2011 Mar 23 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jul 20 (27º, Leo, SHem), Nov 14 (23º, Sco, SHem)
2012 Mar 5 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jul 1 (26º, Cnc, SHem), Oct 26 (24º, Lib, SHem)
2013 Feb 16 (18º, Aqr, NHem), Jun 12 (24º, Gem, SHem), Oct 9 (25º, Lib, SHem)
2014 Jan 31 (18º, Aqr, NHem), May 25 (22º, Tau, NHem), Sep 21 (26º, Vir, SHem)
2015 Jan 14 (19º, Cap, NHem), May 7 (21º, Tau, NHem), Sep 4 (27º, Vir, SHem), Dec 29 (20º, Sgr)
2016* Apr 18 (20º, Ari, NHem), Aug 16 (27º, Leo, SHem), Dec 11 (21º, Sgr, SHem)
2017 Apr 1 (19º, Ari, NHem), Jul 30 (27º, Leo, SHem), Nov 24 (22º, Sgr, SHem)
2018 Mar 15 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jul 12 (26º, Cnc, SHem), Nov 6 (23º, Sco, SHem)
2019† Feb 27 (18º, Psc, NHem), Jun 23 (25º, Gem, SHem), Oct 20 (24º, Lib, SHem)
2020 Feb 10 (18º, Aqr, NHem), Jun 4 (23º, Gem), Oct 1 (26º, Vir, SHem)
2021 Jan 24 (18º, Cap, NHem), May 17 (22º, Tau, NHem), Sep 14 (26º, Vir, SHem)
2022 Jan 7 (19º, Cap, NHem), Apr 29 (20º, Tau, NHem), Aug 27 (27º, Vir, SHem), Dec 21 (20º, Sgr, SHem)
2023 Apr 11 (19º, Ari, NHem), Aug 10 (27º, Leo, SHem), Dec 4 (21º, Sgr, SHem)
* A Transit of Mercury across the Sun took place on May 9th 2016.
† A Transit of Mercury across the Sun took place on November 11th 2019.
Ephemeris 2005-2023
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 Opp: Jan 13 (Gem), SupCon: Jul 23. 2006 Opp: Jan 27 (Cnc), SupCon: Aug 7. 2007 Opp: Feb 10 (Leo), SupCon: Aug 21. 2008 Opp: Feb 24 (Leo), SupCon: Sep 4. 2009 Opp: Mar 8 (Leo), SupCon: Sep 17. 2010 Opp: Mar 22 (Vir), SupCon: Oct 1. 2011 Opp: Apr 4 (Vir), SupCon: Oct 13. 2012 Opp: Apr 15 (Vir), SupCon: Oct 25. 2013 Opp: Apr 28 (Lib), SupCon: Nov 6. 2014 Opp: May 10 (Lib), SupCon: Nov 18. 2015 Opp: May 23 (Lib), SupCon: Nov 29. 2016 Opp: Jun 3 (Oph), SupCon: Dec 10. 2017 Opp: Jun 15 (Oph), SupCon: Dec 21. 2018 Opp: Jun 27 (Sgr). 2019 SupCon: Jan 2, Opp: Jul 9 (Sgr). 2020 SupCon: Jan 13, Opp: Jul 20 (Sgr). 2021 SupCon: Jan 24, Opp: Aug 2 (Cap). 2022 SupCon: Feb 4, Opp: Aug 14 (Cap). 2023 SupCon: Feb 16, Opp: Aug 27 (Aqr).
Ephemeris 2005-2023
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 SupCon: Feb 25, Opp: Sep 1 (Aqr). 2006 SupCon: Mar 1, Opp: Sep 5 (Aqr). 2007 SupCon: Mar 5, Opp: Sep 9 (Aqr). 2008 SupCon: Mar 8, Opp: Sep 13 (Aqr). 2009 SupCon: Mar 13, Opp: Sep 17 (Psc). 2010 SupCon: Mar 17, Opp: Sep 21 (Psc). 2011 SupCon: Mar 21, Opp: Sep 26 (Psc). 2012 SupCon: Mar 24, Opp: Sep 29 (Psc). 2013 SupCon: Mar 28, Opp: Oct 3 (Psc). 2014 SupCon: Apr 2, Opp: Oct 7 (Psc). 2015 SupCon: Apr 6, Opp: Oct 12 (Psc). 2016 SupCon: Apr 9, Opp: Oct 15 (Psc). 2017 SupCon: Apr 14, Opp: Oct 19 (Psc). 2018 SupCon: Apr 18, Opp: Oct 24 (Ari). 2019 SupCon: Apr 23, Opp: Oct 28 (Ari). 2020 SupCon: Apr 26, Opp: Oct 31 (Ari). 2021 SupCon: Apr 30, Opp: Nov 5 (Ari). 2022 SupCon: May 5, Opp: Nov 9 (Ari). 2023 SupCon: May 9, Opp: Nov 13 (Ari).
Ephemeris 2005-2023
[Explanation of abbreviations] [Rise/Set direction table]
2005 SupCon: Feb 3, Opp: Aug 8 (Cap). 2006 SupCon: Feb 6, Opp: Aug 11 (Cap). 2007 SupCon: Feb 8, Opp: Aug 13 (Cap). 2008 SupCon: Feb 11, Opp: Aug 15 (Cap). 2009 SupCon: Feb 12, Opp: Aug 17 (Cap). 2010 SupCon: Feb 14, Opp: Aug 20 (Cap). 2011 SupCon: Feb 17, Opp: Aug 22 (Aqr). 2012 SupCon: Feb 19, Opp: Aug 24 (Aqr). 2013 SupCon: Feb 21, Opp: Aug 27 (Aqr). 2014 SupCon: Feb 23, Opp: Aug 29 (Aqr). 2015 SupCon: Feb 26, Opp: Sep 1 (Aqr). 2016 SupCon: Feb 28, Opp: Sep 2 (Aqr). 2017 SupCon: Mar 2, Opp: Sep 5 (Aqr). 2018 SupCon: Mar 4, Opp: Sep 7 (Aqr). 2019 SupCon: Mar 7, Opp: Sep 10 (Aqr). 2020 SupCon: Mar 8, Opp: Sep 11 (Aqr). 2021 SupCon: Mar 10, Opp: Sep 14 (Aqr). 2022 SupCon: Mar 13, Opp: Sep 16 (Aqr). 2023 SupCon: Mar 15, Opp: Sep 19 (Psc).
Copyright Martin J Powell 2005-2024
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