Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
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Rise22:42
Set11:40

The Moon is a 21-day-old waning crescent, and recently passed last quarter. From Cambridge, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 22:42, until soon before it sets at 11:40.

21 Jul 2024  –  Full Moon
27 Jul 2024  –  Moon at Last Quarter
04 Aug 2024  –  New Moon
12 Aug 2024  –  Moon at First Quarter
Rise07:52
Set21:10

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 2° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise06:41
Set20:55

Venus recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 3° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise01:10
Set15:54

Mars is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:09 (EDT) and reaching an altitude of 37° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:43.

12 Jan 2023  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
06 Dec 2024  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
12 Jan 2025  –  Mars at perigee
15 Jan 2025  –  Mars at opposition
Rise01:43
Set16:41

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:43 (EDT) – 3 hours and 45 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 35° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:08.

30 Dec 2023  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
09 Oct 2024  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
07 Dec 2024  –  Jupiter at opposition
04 Feb 2025  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise22:08
Set09:26

Saturn is currently visible as a morning object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:15, when it reaches an altitude of 11° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:47, 41° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 04:46, 39° above your southern horizon.

29 Jun 2024  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
08 Sep 2024  –  Saturn at opposition
15 Nov 2024  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
23 Mar 2025  –  Saturn ring plane crossing
Rise00:45
Set15:19

Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 00:45 (EDT) and reaching an altitude of 35° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:07.

27 Jan 2024  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
01 Sep 2024  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
16 Nov 2024  –  Uranus at opposition
30 Jan 2025  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise22:28
Set10:24

Neptune is currently visible as a morning object. From Cambridge, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 22:28 (EDT) and reaching an altitude of 46° above the southern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:07.

02 Jul 2024  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
20 Sep 2024  –  Neptune at opposition
07 Dec 2024  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
04 Jul 2025  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion

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Cambridge

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42.38°N
71.11°W
EDT

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