Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
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Rise19:34
Set04:48

The Moon is 13 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 19:34, until soon before it sets at 04:48.

24 Apr 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
01 May 2026  –  Full Moon
09 May 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
16 May 2026  –  New Moon
Rise05:16
Set18:50

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 2° below the horizon at dawn.

Rise06:37
Set22:59

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From London, however, it will become visible at around 20:46 (BST), 17° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 34 minutes after the Sun at 22:56.

Rise04:52
Set17:56

Mars recently passed 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 3° below the horizon at dawn.

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
Rise09:32
Set01:53

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, however, it will become visible at around 20:46 (BST), 44° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 01:53.

11 Mar 2026  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
13 Dec 2026  –  Jupiter enters retrograde motion
11 Feb 2027  –  Jupiter at opposition
13 Apr 2027  –  Jupiter ends retrograde motion
Rise04:47
Set17:10

Saturn recently passed 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 1° below the horizon at dawn.

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
Rise06:20
Set22:06

Uranus recently passed 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 19° from it.

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
Rise04:32
Set16:39

Neptune recently passed 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 6° below the horizon at dawn.

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

Latitude:
Longitude:
Timezone:

51.51°N
0.13°W
BST

Color scheme