Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise06:16
Set17:49

The Moon is a 28-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From South El Monte, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 06:16, until soon before it sets at 17:49. Always take extreme caution when trying to make daytime observations of the Moon while the Sun is above the horizon.

11 Mar 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
18 Mar 2026  –  New Moon
25 Mar 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
01 Apr 2026  –  Full Moon
Rise06:04
Set17:33

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 1° above the horizon at dawn.

Rise07:47
Set20:17

Venus recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 19:16 (PDT), 11° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 14 minutes after the Sun at 20:14.

Rise06:24
Set17:44

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 1° below the horizon at dawn.

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
Rise13:04
Set03:23

Jupiter is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From South El Monte, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 19:16 (PDT), 73° above your south-eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:13, 78° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 02:37, when it sinks below 7° above your western horizon.

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
Rise07:25
Set19:27

Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 7° from it.

27 Nov 2025  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
10 Dec 2026  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
Rise09:53
Set23:50

Uranus will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it will become visible at around 19:59 (PDT), 45° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:50.

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
Rise07:16
Set19:18

Neptune will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 5° from it.

10 Dec 2025  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
07 Jul 2026  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
25 Sep 2026  –  Neptune at opposition
12 Dec 2026  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion

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