Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

South El Monte
Rise17:13
Set05:46

The Moon is 12 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From South El Monte, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 17:13, until soon before it sets at 05:46.

25 Mar 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
01 Apr 2026  –  Full Moon
09 Apr 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
17 Apr 2026  –  New Moon
Rise05:33
Set16:57

Mercury is emerging into the morning sky as it approaches greatest elongation west. 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.

Rise07:37
Set20:45

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 19:27 (PDT), 14° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 31 minutes after the Sun at 20:42.

Rise05:57
Set17:42

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 0° 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
Rise12:11
Set02:30

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 19:27 (PDT), 78° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 02:30.

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
Rise06:34
Set18:40

Saturn recently passed 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.

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
Rise09:00
Set22:58

Uranus recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From South El Monte, however, it will become visible at around 20:11 (PDT), 32° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 47 minutes after the Sun at 22:58.

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
Rise06:22
Set18:25

Neptune recently passed 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 8° 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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