Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
Begin typing the name of a town near to you, and then select the town from the list of options which appear below.
Rise18:56
Set02:16

The Moon is 11 days old, waxing gibbous, and is approaching full moon. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 18:56, until soon before it sets at 02:16.

20 Aug 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
28 Aug 2026  –  Full Moon
04 Sep 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
11 Sep 2026  –  New Moon
Rise05:34
Set20:07

Mercury will soon pass behind the Sun. From London, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 4° from it.

Rise10:26
Set21:04

Venus is visible as an evening object, having recently passed greatest elongation east. From London, however, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 4° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise01:07
Set17:43

Mars is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 01:06 (BST) and reaching an altitude of 33° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:02.

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
Rise04:07
Set19:26

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, however, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 04:07 (BST) – 1 hour and 49 minutes before the Sun – and reaching an altitude of 11° above the eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 05:34.

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
Rise21:26
Set10:04

Saturn is currently visible as a morning object. From London, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 22:39, when it reaches an altitude of 10° above your eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:45, 41° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 05:15, 37° above your south-western horizon.

26 Jul 2026  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
04 Oct 2026  –  Saturn at opposition
11 Dec 2026  –  Saturn ends retrograde motion
09 Aug 2027  –  Saturn enters retrograde motion
Rise23:03
Set15:03

Uranus is currently emerging from behind the Sun. From London, it is visible in the dawn sky, rising at 23:03 (BST) and reaching an altitude of 46° above the south-eastern horizon before fading from view as dawn breaks at around 04:27.

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
Rise21:01
Set09:10

Neptune is currently approaching opposition and is visible as a morning object. From London, it is visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:33, when it reaches an altitude of 21° above your south-eastern horizon. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 03:06, 38° above your southern horizon. It will be lost to dawn twilight around 04:27, 35° above your south-western horizon.

07 Jul 2026  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion
26 Sep 2026  –  Neptune at opposition
12 Dec 2026  –  Neptune ends retrograde motion
10 Jul 2027  –  Neptune enters retrograde motion

Share

London

Latitude:
Longitude:
Timezone:

51.51°N
0.13°W
BST

Color scheme