Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise17:06
Set04:41

The Moon is 11 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From South El Monte, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 17:06, until soon before it sets at 04:41.

23 Apr 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
01 May 2026  –  Full Moon
09 May 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
16 May 2026  –  New Moon
Rise05:27
Set18:08

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. 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 dawn.

Rise07:31
Set21:43

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 19:49 (PDT), 20° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 7 minutes after the Sun at 21:40.

Rise05:03
Set17:35

Mars recently passed 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 3° above 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
Rise10:35
Set00:51

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 19:49 (PDT), 60° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 00:51.

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
Rise04:53
Set17:06

Saturn recently passed 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 6° above the horizon at dawn.

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
Rise07:15
Set21:15

Uranus recently passed 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 6° above the horizon at dusk.

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
Rise04:35
Set16:40

Neptune recently passed 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 4° above the horizon at dawn.

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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