Planetary conjunction
A planetary conjunction is an astronomical event in which two planets appear close together in the sky.
Sometimes, in a rare case of planetary conjunction, one planet passes in front of another, creating a planetary occultation.
The planets are actually millions of miles away in space. However, they appear close together in the sky because they roughly follow a similar path across the sky. This path is known as the ecliptic.
Conjunction of Mercury and Mars on the evening of October 19
Mercury and Mars will appear around 2 degrees of each other in our sky on the evening of October 19, 2025, creating a planetary conjunction. They will meet in the zodiac constellation Libra, the Scales.
Mercury and Mars will set together around 90 minutes after sunset on October 19, 2025. Look for them above the western horizon around 45 minutes after sunset. Mars will be visible to the right of Mercury.
Mercury will be easily visible to the naked eye if you have a clear view of the western horizon. It will shine with a magnitude of -0.1 on the evening of October 19, 2025. Through a telescope, Mercury will appear around 80% illuminated.
Mars will also be visible to the naked eye. It will appear much dimmer than Mercury. It will shine with a magnitude of +1.5 on the evening of October 19, 2025.
After the conjunction on October 19, Mercury and Mars will move away from each other every day, with Mercury ascending and Mars descending in the evening sky.
Conjunction of Mercury and Mars on the evening of November 13
Mercury and Mars will appear within 2 degrees of each other in our sky on the evening of November 13, 2025, creating a planetary conjunction. They will meet in the zodiac constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion.
Mercury and Mars will set together around an hour after sunset on November 13, 2025. Look for them above the western horizon around 45 minutes after sunset. Mars will be visible to the right of Mercury.
Mercury will be difficult to see with the naked eye but a pair of binoculars might help you. It will shine with a magnitude of +1.5 on the evening of November 13, 2025. Through a telescope, Mercury will appear around 20% illuminated.
Mars will also be difficult to see with the naked eye. It will shine with a magnitude of +1.4 on the evening of November 13, 2025.
Conjunction of Mercury and Venus on the morning of November 25
Mercury and Venus will appear within 2 degrees of each other in our sky on the morning of November 25, 2025, creating a planetary conjunction. They will meet in the zodiac constellation Libra, the Scales.
Mercury and Venus will rise together around an hour before sunrise on November 25, 2025. Look for them above the eastern horizon around 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury will be visible above the bright Venus.
Mercury will be difficult to see with the naked eye but a pair of binoculars might help you. It will shine with a magnitude of +2.0 on the morning of November 25, 2025. Through a telescope, Mercury will appear around 10% illuminated.
Venus will be visible to the naked eye if you have a clear view of the eastern horizon. It will appear much brighter than Mercury. It will shine with a magnitude of -3.8 on the morning of November 25, 2025.
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