| Mercury is nicely posititioned almost directly above the Sun along the ecliptic in the autumn, here shining at magnitude -0.65 (which makes it brighter than all stars save Sirius and Canopus) and at an elongation of 17°32'18" from the Sun. The detailed inset view shows Regulus and η Leonis as well. Despite the strange streak that appears to be curving up from η we can be sure this is not a comet, just an artifact :) |