Objects in your sky: Planets

by Dominic Ford

The visibility of the planets on

From location

Chichester
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Rise02:26
Set08:50

The Moon is 20 days old, waning gibbous, and is approaching last quarter. From Chichester, it is visible from soon after it rises, at 02:26, until soon before it sets at 08:50.

02 Apr 2026  –  Full Moon
10 Apr 2026  –  Moon at Last Quarter
17 Apr 2026  –  New Moon
24 Apr 2026  –  Moon at First Quarter
Rise05:50
Set17:02

Mercury is visible as a morning object, having recently passed greatest elongation west. From Chichester, however, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 1° below the horizon at dawn.

Rise07:08
Set21:47

Venus will soon pass behind the Sun. From Chichester, however, it will become visible at around 20:06 (BST), 14° above your western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting 1 hour and 58 minutes after the Sun at 21:44.

Rise05:56
Set17:48

Mars recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Chichester, 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
Rise10:55
Set03:13

Jupiter recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Chichester, however, it will become visible at around 20:06 (BST), 59° above your south-western horizon, as dusk fades to darkness. It will then sink towards the horizon, setting at 03:13.

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
Rise06:16
Set18:27

Saturn recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Chichester, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is 6° 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
Rise07:53
Set23:30

Uranus recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Chichester, it is not observable – it will reach its highest point in the sky during daytime and is no higher than 20° 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
Rise06:04
Set18:07

Neptune recently passed behind the Sun at solar conjunction. From Chichester, it is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 15° 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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Chichester

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Longitude:
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50.84°N
0.78°W
BST

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