Mercury is never brighter or easier to spot with the naked eye than it will be in the next week. It's a rare treat to get such a clear view of the planet closest to the sun, and this front row seat will only last so long.

To see Mercury yourself, go outside about 30 minutes after sunset and look for the planet near the horizon. It will appear just above where the sun sinks, about 15 degrees above the horizon or just above your first if you hold your hand out in front of you, National Geographic reports.

According to Space.com, it's a great time of year to see Mercury with the naked eye but those searching with a telescope will "likely be disappointed." It will only appear as a half moon.

Mercury's surface is relatively dark, and NASA scientists recently found out why. The planet is coated in carbon, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft revealed.

The next time people in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to get a good view of Mercury won't be until October, and even then, it won't be quite as easy to spot.

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Lennon, for John Lennon (1940-1980), an English songwriter, musician, and singer who rose to worldwide fame as a founding member of the Beatles. (USGS/NASA/Getty Image, file)