Star Clock Map 11/1/21 Moon and Mercury
For aerial viewers in the northern hemisphere, 2021 offers the chance to capture the bright jewel of Mercury in the evening sky.
Start your search on January 15, when the flat moon of the new moon will point you in the right direction. The moon will be a glorious strip with only 7.4% of the surface illuminated by sunlight. If you do not see Mercury low in the west at night, return on the following nights at sunset. Mercury will rise higher in the air every night and be easier to spot as it is, but the consideration is that it becomes dimmer as it climbs into the air.
The graph shows the view that looks southwest on January 15, 1700 GMT. Mercury will reach its greatest elongation from the sun, and thus its highest height in the evening sky on January 23-24, but if you catch it early in appearance, you can track the movement night after night. From Sydney, Australia, the planet will be almost lost in the sunshine. However, the washing moon will remain pleasant.