Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise16:57
Set07:41

The Moon is 16 days old, waning gibbous, and recently passed full moon. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 17:40, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your north-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 00:14, 81° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:57, 18° above your western horizon.

05 Nov 2025  –  Full Moon
11 Nov 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
19 Nov 2025  –  New Moon
27 Nov 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
Rise08:07
Set17:54

Mercury is visible as an evening object, having recently passed greatest elongation east. From South El Monte, however, 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.

Rise05:03
Set16:14

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:00 (PST) – 1 hour and 14 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 10° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:57.

Rise07:39
Set17:46

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 1° 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
Rise21:30
Set11:39

Jupiter is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 22:16, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 04:35, 77° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:57, 67° above your south-western 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
Rise14:40
Set02:23

Saturn is currently an early evening object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:27 (PST), 32° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:31, 51° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 01:24, 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
Rise17:39
Set07:38

Uranus is currently approaching opposition. From South El Monte, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 19:30, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 00:39, 75° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:13, 28° 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
Rise14:46
Set02:43

Neptune is currently an early evening object. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:55 (PST), 36° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:45, 54° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 00:53, 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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