What planets are visible tonight?
Mercury is visible low in the eastern morning sky on December 10, 2025. It rises about an hour and 45 minutes before sunrise. Look for it shortly before sunrise. It is easily visible to the naked eye if you have a clear view of the horizon.
This morning, Mercury shines with a magnitude of -0.4 and is located in the zodiac constellation Libra, the Scales.
Venus is not visible on December 10, 2025, as it appears very close to the sun. It rises about 30 minutes before sunrise.
This morning, Venus shines with a magnitude of -3.8 and is located in the zodiac constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion.
Mars is not visible on December 10, 2025, as it appears very close to the sun. It sets about 30 minutes after sunset.
This evening, Mars shines with a magnitude of +1.3 and is located in the zodiac constellation Sagittarius, the Archer.
Jupiter is visible in the eastern evening sky on December 10, 2025. It shines brightly near the twin stars of Gemini—Pollux and Castor. It rises about 3 hours after sunset and is visible for the rest of the night. Look for it in the late evening hours. It appears brighter than all the stars in the night sky and is easily visible to the naked eye.
This evening, Jupiter shines with a magnitude of -2.4 and is located in the zodiac constellation Gemini, the Twins.
Saturn is visible in the southern evening sky on December 10, 2025. It is the brightest star-like object in that part of the sky. It sets about midnight. Look for it in the early evening hours after sunset. It appears golden in the sky and is easily visible to the naked eye.
This evening, Saturn shines with a magnitude of +1.1 and is located in the zodiac constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer.
Uranus is visible in the eastern evening sky on December 10, 2025. It appears very close to the famous Pleiades star cluster. It is visible almost all night and sets a couple of hours before sunrise. Look for it in the early evening hours after sunset. Under dark skies, it appears as a faint, star-like point of light to the naked eye. It is easily visible through a pair of binoculars and appears pale greenish-blue in the sky.
This evening, Uranus shines with a magnitude of +5.6 and is located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull.
Neptune is visible in the southern evening sky on December 10, 2025. It appears very close to Saturn. It sets about midnight. Look for it in the early evening hours after sunset. As Neptune shines beyond the limit of naked-eye visibility, it can’t be seen with the naked eye. It is only visible through a telescope and appears pale greenish-blue in the sky.
This evening, Neptune shines with a magnitude of +7.9 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Our charts are mostly set for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. For precise positions of planets from your location, please visit Stellarium Online.
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 above the western horizon after sunset or above the eastern horizon before 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 December 2025
Mercury will be visible in the morning twilight until late December 2025.
Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation—its maximum angular distance from the sun—on December 7, 2025. At that time, the planet will lie 20.7° west of the sun. This will be the best time to observe Mercury in the morning sky.
After the greatest western elongation, Mercury will sink lower in the morning sky each day in December 2025. It will begin to fade in the sunrise glare from late December 2025.
Mercury will reach its superior solar conjunction—when it lies behind the sun in its orbit—on January 21, 2026. At that time, Mercury will not be visible in our sky, as it rises and sets with the sun. Thereafter, Mercury will shift from the morning sky to the evening sky.
Venus in December 2025
Venus will not be visible in December 2025, as it appears very close to the sun.
Venus will reach its superior solar conjunction—when it lies behind the sun in its orbit—on January 6, 2026. At that time, Venus will rise and set with the sun.
Venus will begin to reappear in the evening twilight in late February 2026.
Mars in December 2025
Mars will not be visible in December 2025, as it appears very close to the sun.
Mars will reach its solar conjunction—when it lies behind the sun in its orbit—on January 9, 2026. At that time, Mars will rise and set with the sun.
Mars will begin to reappear in the morning twilight in late April 2026.
Mars will reach opposition—when it appears on the opposite side of the sun in our sky—on February 19, 2027. At that time, Mars will be closest, brightest, and visible all night long. This will be the best time to observe the planet.
Jupiter in December 2025
Jupiter will be visible from mid-evening to early morning in December 2025. Its brightness will gradually increase each day.
Jupiter rises and sets about four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will rise about three hours after sunset, and by the end of December, it will rise about an hour after sunset.
Jupiter will reach opposition—when it appears on the opposite side of the sun in our sky—on January 10, 2026. At that time, Jupiter will be closest, brightest, and visible all night long. This will be the best time to observe the planet.
Saturn in December 2025
Saturn will be visible from early evening to late evening in December 2025. Its brightness will gradually decrease each day.
Saturn rises and sets about four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set about midnight, and by the end of December, it will set a couple of hours before midnight.
Saturn will reach opposition—when it appears on the opposite side of the sun in our sky—on October 4, 2026. At that time, Saturn will be closest, brightest, and visible all night long. This will be the best time to observe the planet.
Uranus in December 2025
Uranus will be visible from early evening to pre-dawn in December 2025. Its brightness will gradually decrease each day.
Uranus rises and sets about four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set about an hour before sunrise, and by the end of December, it will set about three hours before sunrise.
Uranus will reach opposition—when it appears on the opposite side of the sun in our sky—on November 25, 2026. At that time, Uranus will be closest, brightest, and visible all night long. This will be the best time to observe the planet.
Neptune in December 2025
Neptune will be visible from early evening to late evening in December 2025. Its brightness will gradually decrease each day.
Neptune rises and sets about four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set about midnight, and by the end of December, it will set about a couple of hours before midnight.
Neptune will reach opposition—when it appears on the opposite side of the sun in our sky—on September 26, 2026. At that time, Neptune will be closest, brightest, and visible all night long. This will be the best time to observe the planet.
Resources
Moon phases December 2025: What is the moon phase tonight?
Night sky guide December 2025: What to look for 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.