Objects in your sky: Planets
by Dominic Ford
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The Moon is a 27-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From Kuala Lumpur, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 04:58 (GMT+08) – 2 hours and 3 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 25° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:48.
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Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From Kuala Lumpur, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 0° below the horizon at dusk.
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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 Kuala Lumpur, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:19 (GMT+08) – 1 hour and 42 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 21° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:48.
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Mars will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Kuala Lumpur, it will become visible at around 19:43 (GMT+08), 18° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 50 minutes after the Sun at 21:00.
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Jupiter is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Kuala Lumpur, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 02:41 (GMT+08) and reaching an altitude of 55° above the north-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:48.
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Saturn is currently approaching opposition. From Kuala Lumpur, it is visible between 20:05 and 06:34. It will become accessible at around 20:05, when it rises to an altitude of 10° above your eastern horizon. It will reach its highest point in the sky at 01:19, 83° above your southern horizon. It will become inaccessible at around 06:34 when it sinks below 10° above your western horizon.
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Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Kuala Lumpur, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 00:43, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 05:16, 72° above your northern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:12, 68° above your north-western horizon.
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Neptune is currently approaching opposition. From Kuala Lumpur, it is visible between 20:54 and 05:57. It will become accessible at around 20:54, when it rises to an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will reach its highest point in the sky at 01:25, 85° above your southern horizon. It will become inaccessible at around 05:57 when it sinks below 21° above your western horizon.
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