What planets are visible tonight?
Mercury is visible near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise on April 29, 2025. It is visible to the lower left of bright Venus. It rises around an hour before sunrise. Look for it around 30 minutes before sunrise. It is hard to spot with the naked eye but a pair of binoculars might help you. Mercury is easier to spot in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere for this morning apparition. In the southern hemisphere, it appears higher in the sky before sunrise due to the higher slope of the ecliptic.
On this day, Mercury shines with a magnitude of +0.2 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Venus is visible near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise on April 29, 2025. It rises around an hour and 30 minutes before sunrise. Look for it around 45 minutes before sunrise. It is the brightest planet in the morning sky and is easily visible to the naked eye. Like Mercury, Venus is easier to spot in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere for this morning apparition. In the southern hemisphere, it appears higher in the sky before sunrise due to the higher slope of the ecliptic.
On this day, Venus shines with a magnitude of -4.4 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Mars is visible high in the western sky following sunset on April 29, 2025. It is visible to the left of yellowish Pollux and bluish Castor, the twin stars in Gemini. It sets around a couple of hours after midnight. It appears reddish in the sky and is easily visible to the naked eye. It appears brighter than the twin stars Pollux and Castor.
On this day, Mars shines with a magnitude of +0.9 and is located in the zodiac constellation Cancer, the Crab.
Jupiter is visible in the western sky following sunset on April 29, 2025. It is visible above the orangish Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus. It sets around 3 hours after sunset. It is the brightest planet in the evening sky and is easily visible to the naked eye. It appears brighter than all the stars in the night sky.
On this day, Jupiter shines with a magnitude of -1.8 and is located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull.
Saturn is visible near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise on April 29, 2025. It is visible to the right of bright Venus. It appears much fainter than Venus. It rises around an hour and 30 minutes before sunrise. Look for it around 45 minutes before sunrise. It appears golden in the sky and is easily visible to the naked eye.
On this day, Saturn shines with a magnitude of +1.2 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Uranus is not visible on April 29, 2025. It is hard to spot near the western horizon following sunset as it disappears in the sunset glare. It sets around an hour after sunset.
On this day, Uranus shines with a magnitude of +5.8 and is located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull.
Neptune is visible near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise on April 29, 2025. It is visible between bright Venus and golden Saturn. It rises around an hour and 30 minutes before sunrise. It is not visible to the naked eye as it shines beyond the edge of naked-eye visibility. It is only visible through a telescope or high-powered binoculars. It appears pale greenish blue in the sky, similar to Uranus.
On this day, Neptune shines with a magnitude of +7.9 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Tips to identify planets in the night sky
Like all the celestial objects, planets rise in the east and set in the west. Here are a few tips to identify planets in the night sky:
Tip 1: Planets are not visible anywhere in the sky. They are visible along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path of the sun across the sky. So notice carefully where the sun rises, along which path it moves during the day, and where it sets. Planets are visible along this path at night.
Tip 2: Generally, planets are brighter than most of the stars in the night sky and shine with steady light. They do not twinkle like stars. Anything that is bright but not along the ecliptic cannot be a planet.
Tip 3: Mars appears reddish, Jupiter appears bright white, and Saturn appears golden in the night sky.
Tip 4: Mercury and Venus can never be seen overhead in the night sky. They are always visible near the western horizon following sunset or near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise.
Tip 5: Venus is the brightest object, and Jupiter is the second brightest object in the night sky (except for the moon).
Mercury in May 2025
Currently, Mercury is losing its altitude in the eastern sky before sunrise everyday. It will start to disappear in the sunrise glare from early May.
Mercury will reach its superior solar conjunction on May 30, 2025 – behind the sun in its orbit relative to Earth. At that time, the planet will shift from the morning sky to the evening sky. This will be the worst time to observe the planet, as it rises and sets with the sun.
After the superior solar conjunction, Mercury will rapidly emerge from the sunset glare and will be visible in the western sky after sunset from mid-June 2025.
Mercury will be visible near the waxing crescent moon on the evening of June 26, 2025.
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation on July 4, 2025 – its maximum angular distance from sunset. At that time, the planet will be 25.9°E from sunset. This will be the best time to observe the planet in the western sky after sunset.
Venus in May 2025
Currently, Venus is slowly emerging from the sunrise glare. It will be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise as the “morning star” in May 2025.
The brightness of Venus will rapidly decrease every day in May 2025. The planet reached its greatest brilliancy (peak brightness) in late April 2025.
Venus will be visible near the waning crescent moon on the morning of May 23, 2025.
Venus will reach its greatest western elongation on June 1, 2025 – its maximum angular distance from sunrise. At that time, the planet will be 45.9°W from sunrise. This will be the best time to observe the planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.
After the greatest western elongation, Venus will lose its altitude in the eastern sky before sunrise every day. It will start to disappear in the sunrise glare from November 2025.
Venus will reach its superior solar conjunction on January 6, 2026 – behind the sun in its orbit relative to Earth. At that time, the planet will shift from the morning sky to the evening sky. This will be the worst time to observe the planet, as it rises and sets with the sun.
Mars in May 2025
Mars will be visible from early evening to midnight in May 2025. Its brightness will rapidly decrease every day.
At the beginning of May, Mars will set around a couple of hours after midnight, and by the end of May, it will set around midnight.
Reddish Mars will be visible near the Beehive star cluster in the constellation Cancer in early May 2025. As the month progresses, the planet will move away from the Beehive star cluster and toward Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the Lion.
Mars will be visible near the waxing crescent moon on the evening of May 3, 2025.
Mars will be brightest and visible all night in our sky in February 2027 as it will reach its opposition on February 19, 2027. At that time, Mars will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Mars.
Jupiter in May 2025
Jupiter will be visible in the early evening in May 2025. Its brightness will gradually decrease every day.
Jupiter rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of May, it will set around 3 hours after sunset, and by the end of May, it will set around an hour after sunset.
Jupiter will be visible above the orangish Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, in early May 2025. As the month progresses, Jupiter will lose its altitude on the western horizon after sunset.
Jupiter will be visible near the waxing crescent moon on the evening of April 30, 2025.
Jupiter will be brightest and visible all night in our sky in January 2026 as it will reach its opposition on January 10, 2026. At that time, Jupiter will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Jupiter.
Saturn in May 2025
Saturn will be visible in the early morning in May 2025. Its brightness will gradually increase every day.
Saturn rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of May, it will rise around an hour before sunrise, and by the end of May, it will rise around 3 hours before sunrise.
Golden Saturn will be visible near bright Venus in early May 2025. As the month progresses, Saturn will move away from Venus and will appear higher than Venus on the eastern horizon before sunrise.
Saturn will be visible near the waning crescent moon on the morning of May 22, 2025.
Saturn will be brightest and visible all night in our sky in September 2025 as it will reach its opposition on September 21, 2025. At that time, Saturn will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Saturn.
Uranus in May 2025
Uranus will not be visible in May 2025 as the planet disappears in the sun’s glare. The planet will reach its solar conjunction on May 18, 2025 – behind the sun in its orbit relative to Earth. At that time, the planet will shift from the evening sky to the morning sky.
Uranus rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of May, it will set around an hour after sunset, and by the end of May, it will rise around an hour before sunrise.
The brightness of Uranus will gradually decrease everyday until it reaches its solar conjunction on May 18, 2025, and after that, its brightness will gradually increase.
Uranus will be visible near the waning crescent moon on the morning of June 23, 2025.
Uranus will be brightest and visible all night in our sky in November 2025 as it will reach its opposition on November 21, 2025. At that time, Uranus will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Uranus.
Neptune in May 2025
Neptune will be visible in the early morning in May 2025. Its brightness will gradually increase every day.
Neptune rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of May, it will rise around an hour before sunrise, and by the end of May, it will rise around 3 hours before sunrise.
Neptune will be visible near bright Venus and golden Saturn in early May 2025. As the month progresses, Neptune will move away from Venus and will only be visible near Saturn.
Neptune will be visible near the waning crescent moon on the morning of May 22, 2025.
Neptune will be brightest and visible all night in our sky in September 2025 as it will reach its opposition on September 23, 2025. At that time, Neptune will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Neptune.
Resources
Visit the Stellarium Online for precise positions of planets from your location.
Planet near the moon in the night sky tonight
Visible star clusters April 2025: What clusters are visible tonight?
Moon phases May 2025: What is the moon phase tonight?
Mercury phases 2025: What is the Mercury phase tonight?
Venus phases 2025: What is the Venus phase tonight?
Happy skywatching!
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“Tip 1: Planets are not visible anywhere in the sky. They are visible along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path of the sun across the sky. So notice carefully where the sun rises, along which path it moves during the day, and where it sets. Planets are visible along this path at night.”
The plane of the ecliptic is low in Northern Hemisphere Winter during daytime, hence ‘low winter sun’. At night, the plane’s arc is highest. Look for Taurus as an example of a winter zodiacal constellation riding high in the winter night sky. The reverse is true in Northern Hemisphere Summer, the Sun tracks high while zodiacal constellations like Scorpio are seen far closer to the horizon.