Mercury makes an elusive appearance with the bright star Regulus on Sept. 2

Space and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Look to the east slightly ahead of dawn on Sept. 2 to catch a fleeting glimpse of fleet-footed Mercury alongside the bright star Regulus, before it becomes lost in the light of the rising sun.

TOP TELESCOPE PICK:

Want to get a close look at Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 4SE review.

Stargazers hoping to catch a brief glimpse of Mercury should find a viewing spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon and be in position an hour before sunrise in order to stand a chance of spotting the elusive planet as it rises slightly before the sun.

The rocky world will appear as a bright morning star hugging the horizon among the stars of the constellation Leo, with the bright star Regulus — also known as the "heart of the lion" — located less than 2 degrees to its lower right. Remember, the width of your little finger held at arm's length is approximately 1 degree in the night sky.

Venus will be visible as a bright point of light to the upper right of Mercury on Sept. 2, with mighty Jupiter positioned beyond to form a diagonal line of solar system planets. A 6-inch telescope will allow you to resolve the cloud bands on Jupiter, along with the moon-like phases of Venus, though we would strongly advise against turning binoculars or a telescope on Mercury owing to its proximity to the rising sun.

As the closest planet to the sun, Mercury's tight orbit prevents it from ever rising particularly high in Earth's sky. On the morning of Sept. 2, Mercury will reach an altitude of just 6 degrees at sunrise from the perspective of viewers in New York, and will quickly be overwhelmed by the glow of the sun as it draws closer to the horizon.

Mercury will be nearly impossible to spot for the remainder of the month as it draws closer to the sun in the sky ahead of its superior solar conjunction on Sept. 13, when it will pass on the opposite side of the sun relative to Earth. The months that follow will see Mercury appear as a bright evening star, which will be visible low on the western horizon in the hours after sunset.