Mercury will be at easternmost elongation, its farthest out into the evening sky, on February 19.
As shown by the graph on page 105 of Astronomical Calendar 2026, this is one of the occasions when, as seen from northern countries, Mercury goes out vertically above the Sun and therefore takes full advantage of its elongation. For the time and location of our horizon scene, it is about 10° above the horizon. For south-hemisphere observers, it is a very poor opportunity.
The slender young Moon on February 18 comes up past Venus, and 7 hours later so close to Mercury as to occult (hide) it as seen from southern parts of the Earth up to the southern USA.