Astronomy Picture of the Day . ... 26.04.2012 . ... As the solar system's innermost planet neared its greatest elongation or greatest angle from the Sun (for this apparition about 27 degrees) it was joined by an old crescent Moon . ... A stack of digital images, it consists of an exposure made every 3 minutes beginning at 4:15 am local time on April 19. Mercury's track is at the far right, separated from the Moon's path by about 8 degrees. ... April 2012 . ... Publications with keywords: Moon . ...