Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
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Rise08:04
Set02:07

The Moon is a 5 day-old waxing crescent, and is approaching first quarter. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 08:04, until soon before it sets at 02:07.

19 Mar 2026  –  New Moon
25 Mar 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
02 Apr 2026  –  Full Moon
10 Apr 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
Rise05:12
Set15:56

Mercury is emerging into the morning sky as it approaches greatest elongation west. From London, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 0° below the horizon at dawn.

Rise06:31
Set19:58

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From London, however, it will become visible at around 18:39 (GMT), 10° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 36 minutes after the Sun at 19:55.

Rise05:33
Set16:38

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 5° 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
Rise10:43
Set03:10

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, however, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 18:39 (GMT), 61° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 18:56, 61° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 02:04, when it sinks below 7° above your north-western horizon.

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
Rise06:09
Set18:13

Saturn 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 2° from it.

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
Rise07:44
Set23:26

Uranus recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, however, it will become visible at around 19:39 (GMT), 32° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 23:25.

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
Rise05:59
Set18:01

Neptune 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 1° from it.

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
GMT

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