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 London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 06:50, until soon before it sets at 14:35. Always take extreme caution when trying to make daytime observations of the Moon while the Sun is above the horizon.
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Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From London, however, it will become visible at around 17:36 (GMT), 9° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 31 minutes after the Sun at 18:45.
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Venus recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 2° above the horizon at dusk.
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Mars will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 8° from it.
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Jupiter recently passed opposition. From London, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:35 (GMT), 37° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 21:25, 61° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 04:31, when it sinks below 7° above your north-western horizon.
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Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it will become visible at around 18:01 (GMT), 18° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 59 minutes after the Sun at 20:13.
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Uranus is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From London, it will become visible at around 18:34 (GMT), 56° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 01:46.
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Neptune will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 15° above the horizon at dusk.
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