Saturn and Mercury: similar altitude

Event Date: October 9th
Time: 6:45 PM


Brief

    At the beginning of the month, I showed Saturn and Mercury at the same azimuth.  They are different ecliptic latitudes, and since then, Mercury has moved further from the Sun; it is approaching greatest elongation later this month, while Saturn approaches conjunction.  At magnitude -0.2, Mercury can still be found with the unaided eye, and the Sun's rapid change in setting time has slightly helped keep it at a decent-yet-low- altitude once the sky is dark.
Here are the planets 7.2º apart. 

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Dimmer Saturn (+0.6) is too dim to be seen with the Sun's glare until the Sun gets low enough.  Even at that point, a horizon with no obstruction will be required to see it.  With atmospheric pollution, optical aid will be required to see Saturn with any ease.  Also, each day, as the Sun moves about a degree east, Saturn only moves a tiny fraction of that, so will fall behind the Sun by month's end; we see it as a morning planet by the end of November, when rising early enough before the Sun to be visible.
   Also, when I last showed the two last time, they were the same azimuth, while this time, they are nearly the same altitude, at 6.3º for Mercury, and 6.5º for Saturn.  Since Mercury is further south, it will set first.  However, Saturn will set lose altitude slightly faster.  At 7:07.17, the altitude of both will be the same for both, at 2º 16.78'.