Mercury
0 / 31Nights with time to look
No suitable time is listed for this planet this month between 18:00 and 08:00. Try another planet; this does not mean it is always invisible.
Minneapolis · US · October 2026
A planet can look like a star at first. Here is one to look for, with a local time and a direction to help you find it.
Night beginning Sat 31 Oct
Try around
Time available that night
All times are local to Minneapolis (America/Chicago).
This choice reaches the highest position among the times calculated here. It is a starting point, not a brightness rating or a weather forecast.
A compass can help you find the direction. The horizon is the line where the sky meets the ground.
Before setting out, check the clouds and find a view clear of buildings and trees. These times do not guarantee what you will see.
Each card gives you a time and a direction to try. The count tells you on how many nights this guide finds time to look.
0 / 31Nights with time to look
No suitable time is listed for this planet this month between 18:00 and 08:00. Try another planet; this does not mean it is always invisible.
0 / 31Nights with time to look
No suitable time is listed for this planet this month between 18:00 and 08:00. Try another planet; this does not mean it is always invisible.
31 / 31Nights with time to look
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 56.3°.
31 / 31Nights with time to look
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 51.6°.
31 / 31Nights with time to look
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
Each suggested time is when that planet is highest among the times checked. Clouds and nearby obstacles can still hide it.
Open a date for the full timetable. The date names the evening when the night begins; hours after midnight show the next date.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47.7°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 32.3°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47.9°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 32.8°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.1°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 33.3°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.2°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 33.9°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.4°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 34.4°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.6°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 34.9°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.9°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.7°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 35.4°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.9°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 36°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.1°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 36.5°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.2°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 37°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.4°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 37.5°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.5°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 38°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.7°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.7°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 38.6°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.7°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.9°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 39.1°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.6°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 50°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 39.6°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.6°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 50.2°.
Look toward east, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 40.1°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.5°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 50.4°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 40.6°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.6°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 54.9°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 45.9°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.6°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.3°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.5°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.1°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.8°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.5°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.2°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47.3°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.4°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.4°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 47.7°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.4°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.5°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.2°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.3°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.6°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 48.6°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.4°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.7°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.1°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.4°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.8°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.5°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.4°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 55.9°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 49.9°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.3°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 56°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 50.4°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.3°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 56.1°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 50.8°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.2°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 56.2°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 51.2°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.2°.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
No suitable time is listed between 18:00 and 08:00. This does not rule out every possible sighting.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 56.3°.
Look toward southeast, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 51.6°.
Look toward south, partway up the sky.
Height above the horizon: 46.2°.
Sun centre at or below −12° · planet at least 15° high
Planet intervals are sampled every 30 elapsed minutes from 18:00 local time to 08:00 the following day. Both endpoint samples must have the Sun’s geometric centre at or below −12° and the planet’s apparent altitude at least 15°. The planet altitude includes the engine’s normal atmospheric refraction model.
Only adjacent qualifying samples are joined. Boundaries are approximate and rounded inward to the sample grid; shorter opportunities can be omitted. An empty result means no qualifying sampled interval, not that the object never rises.
Times use the city’s IANA time zone. Each endpoint carries its actual local date and zone label, including daylight-saving changes. Durations are elapsed time, so a clock change can make wall-clock subtraction misleading. A night is named for the date on which it begins.
Coordinates represent the listed city, not a verified observing site. Observer elevation uses the city record where available, otherwise 0 m. Sun and Moon altitudes use a geometric horizon without atmospheric refraction.
Cloud, haze, light pollution, buildings, terrain and actual atmospheric conditions are not modelled. Check the forecast and a clear horizon before making plans; these geometric windows do not promise visibility.
City records are selected from GeoNames data, licensed CC BY 4.0. Calculations use Astronomy Engine 2.1.19; the local sampling and presentation are by Starry Memory.
Find a planet with a simple plan: what to look for, when to go and where to look.
You do not need to know the constellations to start. The guide below suggests a planet, a local date and time, and a direction. Begin with that one target, or open another night to make your own plan.
No. The times are calculated from the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets. Clouds, buildings, trees and bright lamps can still block or spoil the view. Check the forecast before leaving. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope.
Use the local clock in the city named on this page. Each start and end time shows its own date, including after midnight or a clock change. Calculations use the city centre; a different observing spot can change the view.
You can explore the sky and optionally create a poster for a meaningful date and place. A star certificate is a symbolic entry in a private register, not ownership of a star or official astronomical naming.

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