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.
Rise10:25
Set03:13

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 10:25, until soon before it sets at 03:13.

17 Apr 2026  –  New Moon
24 Apr 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
01 May 2026  –  Full Moon
09 May 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
Rise05:27
Set18:00

Mercury remains just about visible as a morning object, now well past greatest elongation west and returning closer to the Sun. From London, however, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 2° below the horizon at dawn.

Rise06:43
Set22:35

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From London, however, it will become visible at around 20:31 (BST), 16° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 23 minutes after the Sun at 22:32.

Rise05:13
Set17:53

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 4° 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
Rise09:58
Set02:21

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, however, it will become visible at around 20:31 (BST), 50° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 02:20.

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
Rise05:17
Set17:36

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 3° 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
Rise06:50
Set22:35

Uranus 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 no higher than 6° above the horizon at dusk.

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
Rise05:03
Set17:09

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 8° 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

Share

London

Latitude:
Longitude:
Timezone:

51.51°N
0.13°W
BST

Color scheme