Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
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Rise06:50
Set14:35

The Moon is a 27-day-old waning crescent, and is approaching new moon. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 06:50, until soon before it sets at 14:35. Always take extreme caution when trying to make daytime observations of the Moon while the Sun is above the horizon.

09 Feb 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
17 Feb 2026  –  New Moon
24 Feb 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
03 Mar 2026  –  Full Moon
Rise07:45
Set18:49

Mercury recently passed behind the Sun at superior solar conjunction. From London, however, it will become visible at around 17:36 (GMT), 9° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 31 minutes after the Sun at 18:45.

Rise07:42
Set18:00

Venus 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 2° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise07:04
Set16:17

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 8° 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
Rise13:12
Set05:37

Jupiter recently passed opposition. From London, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:35 (GMT), 37° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 21:25, 61° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 04:31, 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
Rise08:27
Set20:14

Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it will become visible at around 18:01 (GMT), 18° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 59 minutes after the Sun at 20:13.

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
Rise10:08
Set01:46

Uranus is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From London, it will become visible at around 18:34 (GMT), 56° above your southern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 01:46.

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
Rise08:22
Set20:18

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 15° 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:
Timezone:

51.51°N
0.13°W
GMT

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