Jupiter and Mercury’s Rare 2025 ‘Twilight Tango’: Here’s How to See the Dazzling Conjunction

Don’t Miss the Must-See Celestial Event: Jupiter and Mercury Align Right After Sunset This June

June’s sky delivers a spectacular show as Jupiter and Mercury meet in a fleeting conjunction after sunset—find out how to watch it live.

Celestial enthusiasts, mark your calendars! In June 2025, two of the brightest wandering lights in our solar system—Jupiter and Mercury—will lace up for a rare twilight dance. This Jupiter-Mercury conjunction offers a dazzling opportunity for skywatchers to catch both planets shining side-by-side in a post-sunset spectacle that’s over in a cosmic blink.

The two planets will be just 2° apart in the early evening sky, barely skimming the western horizon once the Sun dips below. Mercury, burning bright at magnitude –1.3, hovers just to the upper right of the mighty gas giant, Jupiter—appearing at an even brighter –1.9 magnitude. For one brief window, both worlds can fit within a single binocular view or even your telescope’s wide-field eyepiece.

Where and When Can You See the Jupiter–Mercury Conjunction?

The show starts right after your local sunset—around 8:27 P.M. for those at mid-northern latitudes (e.g., 40°N). You’ll have just half an hour before the planets dip out of view, so set up early and choose a location with a wide-open western horizon. Hilltops, beaches, or open fields make for perfect skywatching spots. Use a stargazing app or a compass to pinpoint west.

How to View the Conjunction Safely?

Wait for the Sun to completely set before raising your binoculars or telescope to the sky. Never point optics near the Sun due to possible eye injury. If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution and wait several extra minutes after sunset.

Once the sky darkens, spot Mercury’s small, 5-arcsecond disk—nearly fully illuminated—and Jupiter’s massive, 32-arcsecond sphere glowing nearby. While Jupiter’s famed Galilean moons tag along, their subtle glimmers will likely be washed out by the twilight, except under crisply clear skies. Those with steady seeing conditions and keen optics might even glimpse a hint of Jupiter’s famous Great Red Spot transiting the planet earlier that morning.

What’s Special About This Conjunction?

Mercury and Jupiter are an unusual pair—one tiny and nearby, the other huge and distant. Their vast physical differences are striking: Mercury is currently about 116 million miles (187 million km) from Earth, while Jupiter looms nearly five times farther away at 570 million miles (917 million km). Yet, for this fleeting moment, they perform a cosmic duet visible to the naked eye.

The Moon adds drama to the twilight stage, rising at 6:26 P.M. as a waxing gibbous (94% illuminated). Use the bright crescent as an anchor when searching for nearby planets in the fading blue.

What Else Is Happening in the June Sky?

This dazzling conjunction is just the start. June’s evenings spotlight a sky rich with planetary pairings, Moon phases, and, for persistent stargazers, even more planetary alignments. Want to keep tabs on what’s up next? Bookmark the “Sky This Week” columns from your favorite sites, like Sky & Telescope.

Q&A: Jupiter–Mercury Conjunction 2025

• Q: Can I see the conjunction with the naked eye?
  A: Yes! Both planets are bright enough to see unaided if the sky is clear and your horizon is open.
• Q: Which planet is brighter?
  A: Jupiter appears slightly brighter than Mercury, but both shine intensely in twilight.
• Q: Do I need special equipment?
  A: Binoculars or a telescope enhance details, but aren’t required. If you have them, use a wide field eyepiece.

How to Capture the Moment: Astrophotography Tips

1. Scout your western horizon the day before to find the clearest spot.
2. Set up your tripod and camera ready to shoot as dusk falls.
3. Use a telephoto lens or point-and-shoot with a night mode to snap both planets together.
4. Turn off flash, use a remote shutter, and experiment with short exposures (2–5 seconds).
5. Share your best shot with online communities at Reddit or Twitter using #JupiterMercury2025!

Look Up and Watch the Worlds Collide—This Celestial Spectacle Won’t Wait!

Checklist for Skywatchers:

• Find a clear, low western horizon the day before.
• Double-check the sunset time for your location.
• Bring binoculars for the best view.
• Arrive early and wait for full darkness before using optics.
• Set reminders for upcoming sky events in June.

Stay tuned to trusted resources like Astronomy Magazine for the latest alerts and enjoy the cosmic connection—because this ‘twilight tango’ will vanish faster than you can say “planetary pair!”