Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
Rise08:43
Set00:58

The Moon is a 4 day-old waxing crescent, and is approaching first quarter. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 19:28 (EDT), 55° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 00:58.

29 Mar 2025  –  New Moon
04 Apr 2025  –  Moon at First Quarter
12 Apr 2025  –  Full Moon
20 Apr 2025  –  Moon at Last Quarter
Rise05:45
Set17:51

Mercury recently passed in front of the Sun at inferior solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 4° below the horizon at dawn.

Rise05:14
Set17:56

Venus recently passed in front of the Sun at inferior solar conjunction. From Cambridge, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:14 (EDT) – 1 hour and 8 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 8° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:05.

Rise12:03
Set03:22

Mars is currently an early evening object. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 19:44 (EDT), 71° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 03:21.

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
Rise09:25
Set00:29

Jupiter is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 19:28 (EDT), 52° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 00:28.

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
Rise05:53
Set17:30

Saturn recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 2° below the horizon at dawn.

23 Mar 2025  –  Saturn ring plane crossing
06 May 2025  –  Equinox on Saturn
13 Jul 2025  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
21 Sep 2025  –  Saturn at opposition
Rise08:12
Set22:42

Uranus will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 20:19 (EDT), 24° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 32 minutes after the Sun at 22:42.

30 Jan 2025  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
06 Sep 2025  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
21 Nov 2025  –  Uranus at opposition
03 Feb 2026  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise06:02
Set17:59

Neptune recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 9° below the horizon at dawn.

07 Dec 2024  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
04 Jul 2025  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
23 Sep 2025  –  Neptune at opposition
10 Dec 2025  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion

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