Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise08:15
Set18:30

The Moon is a 1 day-old waxing crescent, and recently passed new moon. From South El Monte, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 1° above the horizon at dusk.

21 Oct 2025  –  New Moon
29 Oct 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
05 Nov 2025  –  Full Moon
11 Nov 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
Rise08:57
Set19:05

Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior 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 5° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise05:33
Set17:23

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:30 (PDT) – 1 hour and 30 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 14° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:45.

Rise08:46
Set19:09

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 no higher than 2° above 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
Rise23:27
Set13:35

Jupiter is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 00:12, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 06:31, 77° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:45, 76° above your southern horizon.

04 Feb 2025  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
11 Nov 2025  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Jan 2026  –  Jupiter at opposition
10 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise16:41
Set04:25

Saturn recently passed opposition. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 18:41 (PDT), 23° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 22:33, 52° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 03:27, 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
Rise19:40
Set09:40

Uranus is currently approaching opposition and is visible as a morning object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 21:31, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:40, 75° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:01, 43° 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
Rise16:46
Set04:44

Neptune recently passed opposition. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 19:08 (PDT), 28° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 22:45, 54° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 02:53, 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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