Planets in the Sky Tonight
Sky Map
Celectial bearing and elevation at 18:50
Tonight, the night sky offers a stunning view of several planets that are visible without a telescope. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or a beginner, spotting these planets is a rewarding experience. Depending on the time of year and your location, some of the most famous planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be shining brightly. This page provides a list of the planets that are observable in the sky tonight, along with their positions and the best times to catch them. Explore the fascinating dynamics of our solar system as these planets move through the sky, and get ready for a night of celestial exploration!
Planets Visible Tonight
Discover the planets that are currently visible in the night sky. Learn about their positions, rise and set times, and how to spot them from your location. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just starting out, this guide will help you make the most of your stargazing experience.
Mercury
Inner Planet
Mercury, viewed through telescopes, reveals phases similar to the Moon, as it orbits close to the Sun.
Venus
Inner Planet
Venus, the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star", entices stargazers with its changing phases, transitioning from a slender crescent to a nearly full disc, all while radiating remarkable brilliance and standing out in the night sky.
Mars
Outer Planet
Mars, the "Red Planet", captivates stargazers with its distinct reddish hue, diverse surface features, and ongoing exploration potential for signs of life.
Jupiter
Outer Planet
Jupiter presents a captivating view with its prominent cloud bands, the iconic Great Red Spot, and up to four of its largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
Saturn
Outer Planet
Saturn, the "Ringed Giant", enchants stargazers with its stunning ring system and gas giant beauty in the night sky.
Uranus
Outer Planet
Uranus appears as a small, pale blue-green disk, revealing its unique sideways rotation and, with larger instruments, the possibility of observing its faint ring system and some of its moons.
Neptune
Outer Planet
Neptune appears as a small, featureless, blue disk, showcasing its distinct bluish color due to the presence of methane in its atmosphere.
Planets that are currently not observable
Here, we provide information on planets that are currently not visible from Earth. Learn about their positions, and when they are expected to become observable again.
Pluto
Dwarf Planet
Upcoming Planetary Events
Discover the most captivating planetary events coming soon, including oppositions, elongations, retrograde motions, and close approaches. These phenomena showcase the intricate movements of planets in our solar system:
- Oppositions and Greatest Elongations: During opposition, a planet is directly opposite the Sun, shining at its brightest and visible all night. At greatest elongation, a planet reaches its farthest angular distance from the Sun, offering optimal viewing conditions.
- Retrograde Motions: Witness the optical illusion of a planet moving backward in the sky, caused by the relative motion of Earth and the planet.
- Close Approaches: During close approaches, planets appear to come exceptionally close to one another in the sky, even though they remain separated by vast distances in space. During these events, the planets may appear so close together that they resemble double stars.
Keep track of these events and enjoy the beauty of the ever-changing heavens!
| Time | Description | Constellation |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, 26 December 2024 | Greatest Elongation of Mercury | Ophiuchus |
| Sat, 11 January 2025 | Greatest Elongation of Venus | Aquarius |
| Tue, 14 January 2025, 03:43 | Close approach of Mars and the Moon. Distance - 0.2°, position - 36° above the horizon at East-Northeast | Gemini |
| Fri, 17 January 2025 | Mars is in Opposition | Gemini |