Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Cambridge
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Rise05:03
Set15:34

The Moon is a 26-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From Cambridge, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 05:03, until soon before it sets at 15:34.

28 Mar 2019  –  Moon at Last Quarter
05 Apr 2019  –  New Moon
12 Apr 2019  –  Moon at First Quarter
19 Apr 2019  –  Full Moon
Rise05:34
Set16:59

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

Rise05:14
Set16:07

Venus remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 05:13 (EDT) – 1 hour and 12 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 9° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 06:08.

Rise08:31
Set23:24

Mars is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From Cambridge, it will become visible at around 19:54 (EDT), 36° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:22.

27 Aug 2018  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
23 Aug 2020  –  Mars 2020: a great chance to see the red planet
09 Sep 2020  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
06 Oct 2020  –  Mars at perigee
Rise01:06
Set10:14

Jupiter is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 02:03, when it reaches an altitude of 7° above your south-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 05:40, 24° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 06:08, 24° above your southern horizon.

10 Jul 2018  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
10 Apr 2019  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
10 Jun 2019  –  Jupiter at opposition
11 Aug 2019  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise02:52
Set12:09

Saturn is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From Cambridge, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 02:51 (EDT) – 3 hours and 34 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 22° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:53.

06 Sep 2018  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
29 Apr 2019  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
09 Jul 2019  –  Saturn at opposition
18 Sep 2019  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
Rise07:16
Set20:47

Uranus will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Cambridge, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 20° from it.

06 Jan 2019  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
11 Aug 2019  –  Uranus enters retrograde motion
28 Oct 2019  –  Uranus at opposition
10 Jan 2020  –  Uranus ends retrograde motion
Rise05:37
Set16:59

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 4° below the horizon at dawn.

24 Nov 2018  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
21 Jun 2019  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
10 Sep 2019  –  Neptune at opposition
27 Nov 2019  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion

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Cambridge

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42.38°N
71.11°W
EDT

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