Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise03:14
Set14:39

The Moon is a 26-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 03:14 (PST) – 3 hours and 9 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 31° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:07.

11 Nov 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
19 Nov 2025  –  New Moon
27 Nov 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
04 Dec 2025  –  Full Moon
Rise07:06
Set17:10

Mercury will soon pass in front of the Sun at inferior solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 6° below the horizon at dusk.

Rise05:24
Set16:10

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:21 (PST) – 1 hour and 2 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 8° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:07.

Rise07:35
Set17:33

Mars will soon pass 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 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
Rise20:51
Set10:59

Jupiter is currently visible as a morning object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 21:36, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:55, 77° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:07, 58° above your western horizon.

11 Nov 2025  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Jan 2026  –  Jupiter at opposition
10 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
12 Dec 2026  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
Rise14:00
Set01:42

Saturn is currently an early evening object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:22 (PST), 37° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 19:51, 51° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:43, when it sinks below 11° above your western horizon.

20 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
Rise16:54
Set06:53

Uranus is currently approaching opposition. From South El Monte, it is visible between 18:45 and 05:03. It will become accessible at around 18:45, when it rises to an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will reach its highest point in the sky at 23:54, 75° above your southern horizon. It will become inaccessible at around 05:03 when it sinks below 21° above your western horizon.

05 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
Rise14:06
Set02:03

Neptune is currently an early evening object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:49 (PST), 42° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:05, 54° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:13, when it sinks below 21° above your 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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