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 02:01, until soon before it sets at 19:31. 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 remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 03:59 (BST) – 1 hour and 35 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 8° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:08.
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Venus is emerging into the evening sky as it approaches greatest elongation east. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 7° above the horizon at dusk.
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Mars is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:20 (BST) and reaching an altitude of 26° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:34.
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Jupiter recently passed 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 2° above the horizon at dawn.
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Saturn is currently visible as a morning object. From London, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:35, when it reaches an altitude of 10° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 04:42, 41° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 04:49, 41° above your southern horizon.
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Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 23:57 (BST) and reaching an altitude of 34° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 03:55.
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Neptune is currently visible as a morning object. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 21:57 (BST) and reaching an altitude of 38° above the southern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 03:55.
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