WEBVTT 00:01.568 --> 00:03.169 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% Mercury Spotters rejoice! 00:03.269 --> 00:07.440 align:left position:77.5% line:83% size:12.5% Our tiniest planet is at the Great Western Elongation next week on March 6! 00:07.540 --> 00:11.711 align:left position:72.5% line:83% size:17.5% Because Mercury orbits closer to the sun than us, it can be tough to spot -- zipping back 00:11.811 --> 00:15.915 align:left position:75% line:83% size:15% and forth around our nearest star, but we re Star Gazers -- we re here to help! 00:16.016 --> 00:20.320 align:left position:77.5% line:83% size:12.5% First: on February 26th, Mercury is going to hit the highest point in the sky but it s 00:20.420 --> 00:24.391 align:left position:75% line:83% size:15% still low at about 12-degrees (one fist-high is about 10-degrees). 00:24.491 --> 00:28.261 align:left position:70% line:83% size:20% Head out before sunrise and find a spot without obstruction of the horizon. 00:28.361 --> 00:32.766 align:left position:77.5% line:83% size:12.5% Just before sunrise, keep a sharp eye out for a tiny speck of light that speck is 00:32.866 --> 00:34.601 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% lil sun-soaked Mercury! 00:34.701 --> 00:38.538 align:left position:77.5% line:83% size:12.5% Next week on March 6 Merc hits its Western Elongation -- the edge of its orbit from our 00:38.638 --> 00:40.340 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% perspective! 00:40.440 --> 00:43.777 align:left position:77.5% line:83% size:12.5% If you watch Mercury all week, you ll ALSO see Jupiter and Saturn clustered together! 00:43.877 --> 00:45.912 align:left position:82.5% line:89% size:7.5% What a way to start the day, amirite?! 00:46.012 --> 00:48.014 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Keep lookin up -- er, sideways. 00:48.114 --> 00:52.114 align:left position:42.5% line:89% size:47.5% Both!