Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
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Rise04:41
Set18:51

The Moon is a 28-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From South El Monte, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 04:41, until soon before it sets at 18:51. Always take extreme caution when trying to make daytime observations of the Moon while the Sun is above the horizon.

09 May 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
16 May 2026  –  New Moon
23 May 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
31 May 2026  –  Blue Moon
Rise05:53
Set19:51

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 0° from it.

Rise07:42
Set22:15

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 20:03 (PDT), 23° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 26 minutes after the Sun at 22:12.

Rise04:31
Set17:30

Mars recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 6° above the horizon at dawn.

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
Rise09:40
Set23:54

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 20:03 (PDT), 45° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:54.

10 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
12 Dec 2026  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Feb 2027  –  Jupiter at opposition
12 Apr 2027  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise03:51
Set16:08

Saturn recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 03:51 (PDT) – 1 hour and 57 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 15° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:12.

27 Nov 2025  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
10 Dec 2026  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
Rise06:12
Set20:12

Uranus recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 6° from it.

03 Feb 2026  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
10 Sep 2026  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
25 Nov 2026  –  Uranus at opposition
08 Feb 2027  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise03:29
Set15:35

Neptune recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 13° above the horizon at dawn.

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

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South El Monte

Latitude:
Longitude:
Timezone:

34.05°N
118.05°W
PDT

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