Where is Mercury noted to be observable rising approximately 45 minutes before sunrise in mid-December?
Answer
East-Southeast (ESE) sky
Mercury, due to its orbital proximity to the Sun, is often best seen close to the twilight periods. For the period specified in mid-December, current sky reports show Mercury appearing in the east-southeast sky approximately 45 minutes prior to the actual sunrise time. This places its rising point firmly in the ESE quadrant of the eastern horizon. Furthermore, this timing means it is best viewed shortly before dawn, contrasting with planets visible high in the evening sky like Saturn.
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