Objects in your sky: Planets
by Dominic Ford
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The Moon is a 4 day-old waxing crescent, and is approaching first quarter. From South El Monte, it will become visible at around 19:39 (PDT), 19° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 5 minutes after the Sun at 21:29.
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Mercury remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:02 (PDT) – 1 hour and 17 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 11° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:03.
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Venus remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 03:43 (PDT) – 2 hours and 36 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 27° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:03.
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Mars will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 10° above the horizon at dusk.
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Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 02:32 (PDT) – 3 hours and 47 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 41° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:03.
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Saturn is currently approaching opposition and is visible as a morning object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 21:33, when it reaches an altitude of 11° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:32, 53° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:47, 31° above your south-western horizon.
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Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 23:23 (PDT) and reaching an altitude of 69° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:18.
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Neptune is currently approaching opposition and is visible as a morning object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 22:24, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:34, 55° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:18, 38° above your south-western horizon.
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