Objects in your sky: Planets
by Dominic Ford
|
The Moon is 8 days old, waxing gibbous, and recently passed first quarter. From Ashburn, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 12:53, until soon before it sets at 04:43.
|
|
Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From Ashburn, however, it will become visible at around 19:36 (EDT), 10° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 18 minutes after the Sun at 20:37.
|
|
Venus remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From Ashburn, however, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 4° above the horizon at dawn.
|
|
Mars recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Ashburn, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 5° above the horizon at dawn.
|
|
Jupiter will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Ashburn, it will become visible at around 19:36 (EDT), 39° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 45 minutes after the Sun at 23:04.
|
|
Saturn recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Ashburn, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 1° below the horizon at dawn.
|
|
Uranus will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Ashburn, it will become visible at around 20:23 (EDT), 35° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:34.
|
|
Neptune recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Ashburn, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 1° from it.
|
Share