Mercury & Venus in the evening sky. Image by Bob Napier  |
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The planets Mercury and Venus are in the WSW part of the evening sky just after sunset. This is one of the best opportunities for the public to see the planet Mercury (with just the naked eye) since it is just to the lower right of the very bright planet Venus. It will be in a favorable visual location after sunset from about 5:30 to 6:00 PM for just about another 7 days.
In the attached digital image, brighter Venus is at the top left part of the image, with Mercury to its lower right (above left end of the bridge). I took the image yesterday evening, Feb. 4, from Common Fence Point looking across Mt. Hope Bay toward the WSW with the Mt. Hope Bridge and Roger Williams Univ. (on the right end of the bridge).
