At 8:45pm MDT each night from tonight through Sunday April 26, there is a wide-field planetary imaging opportunity. 8:45pm MDT is just before nautical twilight with the Sun at about -5 1/2 degs alt. Near the due west horizon (az 287), Mercury will be at about 13 deg alt and 5 degrees south of the Pleiades at 18 deg alt. The RASC Handbook lists Mercury at -0.4 mags. On April 25, a new Moon crescent with 0.01 illuminated fraction will join the trio at 7 degs alt. On Sunday, April 26, the thin crescent Moon (0.05 illuminated fraction) will be 2 degs north alt of the Pleiades. Cloud outs are likely considering the current jet stream and weather patterns across northern Utah. See ST Calendar http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance - Clear Skies - Kurt