Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
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Rise21:44
Set08:50

The Moon is 18 days old, waning gibbous, and is approaching last quarter. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 21:44, until soon before it sets at 08:50.

01 Feb 2026  –  Full Moon
09 Feb 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
17 Feb 2026  –  New Moon
24 Feb 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
Rise08:04
Set17:55

Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From London, 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 dusk.

Rise07:56
Set17:31

Venus recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From London, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 7° from it.

Rise07:23
Set16:11

Mars will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 6° from it.

24 Feb 2025  –  Mars ends retrograde motion
10 Jan 2027  –  Mars enters retrograde motion
19 Feb 2027  –  Mars at opposition
20 Feb 2027  –  Mars at perigee
Rise13:51
Set06:15

Jupiter recently passed opposition. From London, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:19 (GMT), 29° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 22:03, 61° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 05:09, when it sinks below 7° above your north-western horizon.

10 Jan 2026  –  Jupiter at opposition
11 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
13 Dec 2026  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
11 Feb 2027  –  Jupiter at opposition
Rise09:01
Set20:43

Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it will become visible at around 17:46 (GMT), 24° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 3 hours and 46 minutes after the Sun at 20:43.

28 Nov 2025  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
11 Dec 2026  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
Rise10:43
Set02:21

Uranus is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From London, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 18:19 (GMT), 57° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 18:32, 57° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 23:50, when it sinks below 21° above your western horizon.

04 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
Rise08:57
Set20:52

Neptune will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 21° above the horizon at dusk.

10 Dec 2025  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
07 Jul 2026  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
26 Sep 2026  –  Neptune at opposition
12 Dec 2026  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion

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London

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Longitude:
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51.51°N
0.13°W
GMT

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