Two evening planets are visible in the southwestern sky this coming week. We've been watching Jupiter through the winter and now in the early evening, the planet is low in the southwestern sky.
Look underneath Jupiter and to your right for the planet Mercury. Mercury is now visible only for a short time after sunset amid the light of twilight. Mercury is not as bright as Jupiter, but you use Jupiter to find it.
Don't wait too late in the evening. Mercury sets pretty quickly. A pair of binoculars will help immensely.
Of all the visible planets, Mercury is the most difficult to spot. The planet is always close to the sun, and only occasionally far enough away from the sun to be seen, and this week is the best.
The planet has an 88 day orbit around the Sun. It is fast, only visible for a few evenings or mornings before it drops back below the horizon.