Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
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Rise17:57
Set10:22

The Moon is 18 days old, waning gibbous, and is approaching last quarter. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 18:51, when it reaches an altitude of 5° above your north-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:09, 74° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:05, 41° above your western horizon.

05 Nov 2025  –  Full Moon
12 Nov 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
20 Nov 2025  –  New Moon
28 Nov 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
Rise08:19
Set17:16

Mercury is visible as an evening object, having recently passed greatest elongation east. From Cambridge, however, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 1° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise05:09
Set15:55

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From Cambridge, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:06 (EST) – 1 hour and 18 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 9° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:05.

Rise07:52
Set17:14

Mars will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 0° below the horizon at dusk.

23 Feb 2025  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
10 Jan 2027  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
19 Feb 2027  –  Mars at opposition
19 Feb 2027  –  Mars at perigee
Rise20:53
Set11:46

Jupiter is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 21:44, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 04:20, 68° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:05, 59° above your south-western horizon.

04 Feb 2025  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
11 Nov 2025  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Jan 2026  –  Jupiter at opposition
10 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise14:28
Set02:04

Saturn is currently an early evening object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:07 (EST), 26° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:16, 43° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:57, when it sinks below 11° above your western horizon.

21 Sep 2025  –  Saturn at opposition
27 Nov 2025  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
Rise17:03
Set07:44

Uranus is currently approaching opposition. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 19:07, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 00:23, 67° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:15, 25° above your western horizon.

06 Sep 2025  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
21 Nov 2025  –  Uranus at opposition
03 Feb 2026  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
10 Sep 2026  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
Rise14:32
Set02:27

Neptune is currently an early evening object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:37 (EST), 31° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:30, 46° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:21, when it sinks below 21° above your south-western horizon.

23 Sep 2025  –  Neptune at opposition
10 Dec 2025  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
07 Jul 2026  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
25 Sep 2026  –  Neptune at opposition

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Cambridge

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Longitude:
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42.38°N
71.11°W
EST

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