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2
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Moon 2.7° from Beehive Cluster (M44) at 0h UT (morning sky). Best seen with the aid of binoculars.
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6
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New Moon at 11:18 UT. Beginning of lunation 987.
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6
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Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 13h UT (distance 356,918 km; angular size 33.5').
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8
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Crescent Moon near Venus. From mid-northern latitudes the Moon will appear above Venus at dusk. Look for Venus very low in the west-southwest sky soon after sunset. Venus will be visible during the first half of the month, sinking from view after that.
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10
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Mercury 2.8° from Mars at 13h UT (morning sky). Both planets are low in the east and difficult to view in morning twilight. Binoculars required.
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13
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First Quarter Moon at 5:33 UT.
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13
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Mercury at greatest elongation, 18° west of the Sun. The best apparition all year for skywatchers at mid-northern latitudes. Locate Mercury (magnitude 0.5) 10° above the eastern horizon 40 minutes before sunrise. Much fainter Mars (magnitude +1.8) is 3.5° to the upper right.
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20
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Moon at apogee (furthest from Earth) at 5h UT (distance 406,360 km; angular size 29.4').
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21
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Full Moon at 7:20 UT. The Hunter's Moon because it is the first Full Moon after the Harvest Moon.
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21
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Orionid meteor shower peaks. This year the Full Moon will greatly reduce the view of the Orionids.
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26
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Moon 3.1° from Saturn at 8h UT (morning sky).
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29
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Last Quarter Moon at 5:28 UT.
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29
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Moon 2.9° from Beehive Cluster (M44) at 8h UT (morning sky). Best seen with the aid of binoculars.
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30
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Moon 4.3° from Jupiter at 0h UT (morning sky).
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31
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Venus at inferior conjunction at 12h UT.
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Also...
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Saturn (magnitude 0.1) now rises in the mid-to-late evening. Shines with a distinct yellow color and located about mid-way between the bright stars Aldebaran and the Pollux-Castor pair. A telescope will always provide a spectacular view of Saturn but it's best to wait till the ringed-planet is high up in the sky. Jupiter (magnitude 2.0) rises in the east-northeast around midnight. Continues to move away from the Beehive Cluster.
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