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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A lot of people have never seen Mercury. The next few days would give you the best opportunity, as it reaches a really high elongation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Go out at dusk if it is clear and you have a good view to the west. Venus is the bright one up there. You know where the plane of the ecliptic: it drops at an angle of 90 degrees minus your latitude. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Along that ecliptic, about half way between the horizon and Venus is Mercury. It is a fortunate coincidence that Mercury reaches its aphelion close to the winter solstice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>