Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
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Rise14:31
Set06:25

The Moon is 12 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 16:31 (EST), 19° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 22:22, 68° above your south-western horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 05:31, when it sinks below -5° above your north-western horizon.

08 Dec 2024  –  Moon at First Quarter
15 Dec 2024  –  Full Moon
22 Dec 2024  –  Moon at Last Quarter
30 Dec 2024  –  New Moon
Rise05:41
Set15:25

Mercury is emerging into the morning sky as it approaches greatest elongation west. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 5° above the horizon at dawn.

Rise10:09
Set19:35

Venus is emerging into the evening sky as it approaches greatest elongation east. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 16:31 (EST), 22° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 21 minutes after the Sun at 19:32.

Rise19:19
Set10:19

Mars is currently approaching opposition and is visible as a morning object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 20:14, when it reaches an altitude of 8° above your north-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:49, 69° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:40, 37° above your western horizon.

06 Dec 2024  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
12 Jan 2025  –  Mars at perigee
15 Jan 2025  –  Mars at opposition
23 Feb 2025  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
Rise15:36
Set06:36

Jupiter recently passed opposition. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 16:31 (EST), 8° above your north-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 23:07, 69° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 05:45, 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
Rise11:40
Set22:44

Saturn is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 16:53 (EST), 38° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 17:12, 39° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 21:35, when it sinks below 11° above your south-western horizon.

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
Rise14:23
Set04:51

Uranus recently passed opposition. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:24 (EST), 31° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 21:37, 66° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 02:48, 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
Rise12:08
Set23:56

Neptune is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From Cambridge, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:24 (EST), 44° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 18:02, 45° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 21:49, when it sinks below 21° above your south-western horizon.

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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