Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Fairfield
Rise17:22
Set02:13

The Moon is 12 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From Fairfield, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 17:22, until soon before it sets at 02:13.

13 Jul 2024  –  Moon at First Quarter
21 Jul 2024  –  Full Moon
27 Jul 2024  –  Moon at Last Quarter
04 Aug 2024  –  New Moon
Rise07:50
Set21:39

Mercury is emerging into the evening sky as it approaches greatest elongation east. From Fairfield, 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.

Rise06:31
Set21:04

Venus recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From Fairfield, 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 dusk.

Rise01:38
Set16:03

Mars is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Fairfield, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:37 (EDT) – 3 hours and 55 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 34° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:47.

12 Jan 2023  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
06 Dec 2024  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
12 Jan 2025  –  Mars at perigee
15 Jan 2025  –  Mars at opposition
Rise02:25
Set17:12

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Fairfield, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 02:24 (EDT) – 3 hours and 8 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 29° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:12.

30 Dec 2023  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
09 Oct 2024  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
07 Dec 2024  –  Jupiter at opposition
04 Feb 2025  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise22:51
Set10:13

Saturn is currently visible as a morning object. From Fairfield, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:57, when it reaches an altitude of 11° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 04:32, 42° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 04:50, 42° above your southern horizon.

29 Jun 2024  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
08 Sep 2024  –  Saturn at opposition
15 Nov 2024  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
23 Mar 2025  –  Saturn ring plane crossing
Rise01:31
Set15:58

Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Fairfield, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:31 (EDT) and reaching an altitude of 28° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:11.

27 Jan 2024  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
01 Sep 2024  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
16 Nov 2024  –  Uranus at opposition
30 Jan 2025  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise23:12
Set11:08

Neptune is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Fairfield, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 23:12 (EDT) and reaching an altitude of 45° above the southern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:11.

02 Jul 2024  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
20 Sep 2024  –  Neptune at opposition
07 Dec 2024  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
04 Jul 2025  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion

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