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Volume 23 -- Issue 1
Planet Watch -- January 2017
Mercury is visible over the eastern horizon before sunrise for the entire month with its maximum seperation from the Sun (24o on the
19th when it reaches greatest western elongation
Venus is the prominent bright celestial object in the evening skies this month over the southwestern horizon. Venus is
at it's maximum separation from the Sun (47o on the 12th when it reaches its greatest eastern elongation.
Mars is visible as the reddish 'star' in the constellation Capricornus the Sea Goat. Watch for a nice conjunction with Venus
and the thin waxing crescent Moon on the 31st when all three, the Moon, Mars and Venus will be within about 6o
from each other.
Jupiter rises around midnight local time and is very visible, along with the star Spica, above the southern horizon at sunrise.
Saturn is visible above the eastern horizon before sunrise this month and becomes more and more visible gaining
height above the eastern and southern horizons as it increases its separation from the Sun.
Dwarf Planet Ceres rises around sunset local time and is a few degrees west of the 'Circlet' asterism of Cetus the Whale,
and near another Dwarf Planet - this one in the outer reaches of the solar system, Dwarf Planet Eris.