Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise18:20
Set04:41

The Moon is 14 days old, waning gibbous, and recently passed full moon. From South El Monte, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 18:20, until soon before it sets at 04:41.

19 Aug 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
27 Aug 2026  –  Full Moon
04 Sep 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
10 Sep 2026  –  New Moon
Rise06:14
Set19:28

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 2° from it.

Rise09:59
Set21:11

Venus is visible as an evening object, having recently passed greatest elongation east. From South El Monte, it will become visible at around 19:41 (PDT), 16° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 45 minutes after the Sun at 21:10.

Rise02:03
Set16:26

Mars is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 02:01 (PDT) and reaching an altitude of 42° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:40.

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
Rise04:38
Set18:24

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 04:38 (PDT) – 1 hour and 40 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 16° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:03.

10 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
12 Dec 2026  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Feb 2027  –  Jupiter at opposition
12 Apr 2027  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise21:16
Set09:38

Saturn 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 22:11, when it reaches an altitude of 10° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:27, 58° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:49, 44° above your south-western horizon.

26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
10 Dec 2026  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
09 Aug 2027  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
Rise23:42
Set13:49

Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From South El Monte, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 23:42 (PDT) and reaching an altitude of 66° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:16.

03 Feb 2026  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
10 Sep 2026  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
25 Nov 2026  –  Uranus at opposition
08 Feb 2027  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise20:45
Set08:51

Neptune 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 22:35, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 02:48, 56° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:16, 41° above your south-western horizon.

07 Jul 2026  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
25 Sep 2026  –  Neptune at opposition
12 Dec 2026  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
09 Jul 2027  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion

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