Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

London
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Rise08:30
Set00:15

The Moon is a 4 day-old waxing crescent, and is approaching first quarter. From London, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 08:30, until soon before it sets at 00:15.

17 Feb 2026  –  New Moon
24 Feb 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
03 Mar 2026  –  Full Moon
11 Mar 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
Rise07:20
Set19:09

Mercury is visible as an evening object, having recently passed greatest elongation east. From London, it will become visible at around 17:58 (GMT), 9° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 41 minutes after the Sun at 19:07.

Rise07:30
Set18:23

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 4° above the horizon at dusk.

Rise06:48
Set16:21

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 10° 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
Rise12:42
Set05:08

Jupiter is currently an early evening object. From London, it is visible in the evening sky, becoming accessible around 17:47 (GMT), 44° above your eastern horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then reach its highest point in the sky at 20:55, 61° above your southern horizon. It will continue to be observable until around 04:02, 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
Rise08:01
Set19:51

Saturn will soon pass behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From London, it will become visible at around 18:13 (GMT), 14° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 2 hours and 24 minutes after the Sun at 19:50.

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
Rise09:40
Set01:19

Uranus is currently an early evening object, now receding into evening twilight. From London, it will become visible at around 18:46 (GMT), 54° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 01:19.

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
Rise07:55
Set19:52

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 9° 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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