Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
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Rise15:02
Set07:16

The Moon is 13 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 16:52 (EST), 16° above your north-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 23:12, 70° above your south-western horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 06:23, when it sinks below -3° above your north-western horizon.

06 Jan 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
13 Jan 2025  –  Full Moon
21 Jan 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
29 Jan 2025  –  New Moon
Rise06:11
Set15:09

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 4° above the horizon at dawn.

Rise09:27
Set20:31

Venus is emerging into the evening sky as it approaches greatest elongation east. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 16:52 (EST), 32° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 56 minutes after the Sun at 20:28.

Rise16:33
Set08:01

Mars is currently approaching opposition. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 17:28, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your north-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 00:18, 72° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:50, 10° above your north-western horizon.

12 Jan 2025  –  Mars at perigee
15 Jan 2025  –  Mars at opposition
23 Feb 2025  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
10 Jan 2027  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
Rise13:26
Set04:23

Jupiter is currently an early evening object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 16:52 (EST), 35° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:54, 69° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 03:31, when it sinks below 7° above your western horizon.

07 Dec 2024  –  Jupiter at opposition
04 Feb 2025  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
11 Nov 2025  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Jan 2026  –  Jupiter at opposition
Rise09:47
Set20:57

Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 17:15 (EST), 33° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 20:57.

15 Nov 2024  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
23 Mar 2025  –  Saturn ring plane crossing
06 May 2025  –  Equinox on Saturn
13 Jul 2025  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
Rise12:22
Set02:49

Uranus is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:44 (EST), 56° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 19:36, 65° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:46, when it sinks below 21° above your western horizon.

16 Nov 2024  –  Uranus at opposition
30 Jan 2025  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
06 Sep 2025  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
21 Nov 2025  –  Uranus at opposition
Rise10:10
Set22:00

Neptune will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 17:44 (EST), 39° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 22:00.

07 Dec 2024  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
04 Jul 2025  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
23 Sep 2025  –  Neptune at opposition
10 Dec 2025  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion

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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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