☿ Mercury today
Mercury today (2026-05-01): apparent position RA 25.40°, Dec 8.52°, 1.254 AU from Earth, magnitude -0.79. Computed live via VSOP87D.
☿ Mercury at 2026-05-01T08:32:16Z UTC
Apparent equatorial coordinates (geocentric)
| Right Ascension (RA): | 25.404797° (01:41:37) |
| Declination (Dec): | 8.516539° |
| Ecliptic longitude (lambda): | 26.642512° |
| Ecliptic latitude (beta): | -1.883523° |
| Mean obliquity: | 23.435867° |
Heliocentric position (Sun at center)
| Longitude L (helio): | 344.654013° |
| Latitude B (helio): | -6.301880° |
| Distance R (helio): | 0.375283149 AU |
| Distance (km): | 56,141,560 km |
Time scales
| UTC: | 2026-05-01 08:32:16 |
| JD UTC: | 2461161.855744 |
| JD TT: | 2461161.856612 |
| Delta T: | 75.075 s |
| tau (J2000 millennia): | 0.026329518 |
About Mercury
The position above was computed with the VSOP87D theory (Bretagnon & Francou 1988), the standard analytical theory of IMCCE/Bureau des Longitudes. Values are apparent geocentric, with iterative light-time correction (3 passes), ecliptic-to-equator conversion via mean obliquity (Meeus Eq. 22.2), and freely available through open source.
Typical precision: 1-3 arcsec in RA/Dec for the 1900-2100 window, with controlled degradation up to ~arc-min at the 4000 BC and 3000 AD extremes. For maximum precision, use JPL Horizons. See the precision page for numerical validation.
Other planets
See methodology, sources, precision, planets hub.