Mercury and Venus at 9.30 last night: getting closer!

If it's clear tonight (wherever you are in the UK) and you have a clear western horizon, then you'll have the best opportunity for a long time to see the planet Mercury. Normally this tiny object is too close to the Sun to pick out, but tonight it will be near Venus. Since this is the brightest object in the sky at the moment, all you have to do is find Venus in your binoculars and Mercury will be a slightly fainter 'star' just below it. The photos below were taken last night with a 300mm prime lens.