ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 4.2%
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Planet Oppositions 2005 to 2020
Listed below is information about major planet oppositions in the next 15 years (2005 to 2020). The info will be useful for both visual observing and for planetary imagers who can't wait for an opportunity to image the big 3 when they're high in the Southern sky!
The information listed includes:
- Opposition Date - the date of opposition when the Sun, the Earth and the Planet are in a straight line
- Maximum Altitude - how high in the sky the planet will reach at midnight on opposition date
- Angular Size - how big the planet will appear, measured in arcseconds
- Apparent Magnitude - how bright the planet will appear
The Maximum Altitude, listed in degrees, is from Sydney, Australia latitude 33deg South. If you live further South, subtract 1 degree in elevation for each degree further south. If you live further North, add 1 degree in elevation.
Examples: If you live in Hobart, Tasmania (at 42deg S), subtract 9 degrees from the altitudes listed for the maximum altitude at your location. If you live in Brisbane, Queesland (at 27deg S), add 6 degrees to the altitudes listed for the maximum altitude at your location.
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Planet
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Mars
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Jupiter
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Saturn
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Year
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Opp Date
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Max Alt
(deg)
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Dia
(")
|
Mag
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Opp Date
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Max Alt
(deg)
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Dia
(")
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Mag
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Opp Date
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Max Alt
(deg)
|
Dia
(")
|
Mag
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2005
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07-Nov
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40
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20
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-2.32
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2006
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|
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04-May
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70
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45
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-2.50
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27-Jan
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37
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20
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-0.23
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2007
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24-Dec
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29
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16
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-1.63
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05-Jun
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78
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46
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-2.59
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10-Feb
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40
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20
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-0.04
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2008
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|
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09-Jul
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78
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47
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-2.73
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24-Feb
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44
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20
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0.20
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2009
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|
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14-Aug
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71
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49
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-2.86
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08-Mar
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49
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20
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0.49
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2010
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29-Jan
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34
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14
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-1.28
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21-Sep
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58
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50
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-2.93
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22-Mar
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54
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20
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0.53
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2011
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29-Oct
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44
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50
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-2.92
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03-Apr
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59
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19
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0.35
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2012
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03-Mar
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45
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14
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-1.22
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03-Dec
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35
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48
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-2.83
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15-Apr
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63
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19
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0.22
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2013
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|
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28-Apr
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68
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19
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0.13
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2014
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08-Apr
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61
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15
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-1.47
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05-Jan
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33
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47
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-2.70
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10-May
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71
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19
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0.06
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2015
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|
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06-Feb
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39
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45
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-2.57
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23-May
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74
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19
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0.02
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2016
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22-May
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78
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18
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-2.06
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08-Mar
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50
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44
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-2.49
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03-Jun
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77
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18
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0.00
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2017
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07-Apr
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62
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44
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-2.46
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15-Jun
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78
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18
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0.00
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2018
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27-Jul
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81
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24
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-2.78
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09-May
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72
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45
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-2.51
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27-Jun
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78
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18
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0.02
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2019
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|
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10-Jun
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78
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46
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-2.61
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09-Jul
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78
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18
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0.05
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2020
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13-Oct
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50
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22
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-2.62
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14-Jul
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78
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48
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-2.75
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20-Jul
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76
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18
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0.10
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Summary:
Mars is getting smaller each opposition, with 2010 being the worst year with a low altitude and a small angular size. It starts improving from 2014, with 2018 being the best Mars opposition in the next 15 years as it will be high in the sky and a massive 24" in diameter.
Jupiter is well placed for us in the next few years with 2007 being the best as it will be high in the sky and 47" in diameter. It will be at its largest, a whopping 50" in 2010, but it will be lower in the sky. It gets worse after that, 2014 is when it will be at its lowest (only 33 deg).
Saturn is not good for us in 2006 - it will be at its worst for the next 15 years in terms of altitude. It gets better from then on though, peaking in 2017 at 78 deg altitude while still being a respectable 18" in size.
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Legend:
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Best Altitude |
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Biggest Size |
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Brightest |
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Overall Best Year |
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Worst Altitude |
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Smallest Size |
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Dimmest |
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Overall Worst Year |
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