Mercury setting close to southern slope of Transmitter Hill with Procyon above left.

Between 5.51 and 6.05 pm on Tuesday 17th June, Mercury was observed setting in clear sky on the southern slope of Transmitter Hill when the bright glow of a late volcanic sunset had faded sufficiently for it to be seen. This is the first time since being in opposition to the Sun from late May to early June that Mercury is far enough away from the setting Sun to become visible before disappearing below the local horizon.

Tripod-mounted Panasonic Lumic DMC-ZS40 in manual exposure mode

Image size reduction, slight enhancement of visibility of celestial objects using 'Star Spikes Pro' filter