If you want to know what planets are visible in the night sky tonight, this guide is for you.
Here we'll reveal what the planets are doing in the night sky throughout 2025, month by month, and which planets are not visible.
If you want to get out and see the planets tonight, you may be wondering where to start.
Finding and observing the planets of the Solar System in the night sky isn't as tricky as you think. You just need to know where to look.
Tips for spotting planets in the night sky tonight
When a planet is in a favourable position in the evening or morning sky, it will look like a bright 'star', the most obvious point of light visible to the naked eye.
Any visible planets tonight can be found along the ecliptic, which is the line the Sun appears to traverse in the sky over the course of a day.
Since the major planets of the Solar System orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane, the ecliptic marks the path of the planets.
Is it bright, but on the wrong side of thesky to the ecliptic? Then it's not a planet.
Another thing to consider is what planets are at or are near opposition, which is the best time to see a planet in the night sky.
If there's a planet near opposition tonight, that's the one to look for, as long as it's nice and high in the sky too
For more advice, read our guide on how to find planets in the night sky.
And download an astronomy and stargazing app to help you locate any planets visible in the night sky.
If you're out spotting visible planets tonight, don't forget to let your eyes adapt to the dark first.
Wait 20-30 minutes without looking at any artificial light (streetlights, your smartphone etc.) and you'll see so much more.
Once you've got to grips with this, all you need to know is what planets will be visible in the night each month, so you know what to look out for, and what dates they will be best placed.
This is where our guide below comes in. Use it throughout the coming 12 months to find out which planets are visible in the night sky in 2025, which are at opposition, and to keep track of any interesting upcoming conjunctions.
Sign up to the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for lunar phases and monthly astronomy highlights delivered direct to your email inbox.
You can also listen to our Star Diary podcast each week for more advice on what to see in the night sky.
If you're out spotting the planets tonight, take a pair of headphones and listen for up-to-date stargazing tips.
January 2025
- 3/4 January: Quadrantid meteor shower peak
- 4 January: Evening lunar occultation of Saturn
- 10 January: Venus at greatest eastern elongation (47.2o from the Sun; evening)
- 16 January: Mars reaches opposition
- 18 January: Venus 2.2° north of Saturn (evening)
Mercury
Visible low in the dawn twilight, lost after 9 Jan.
Venus
Greatest elongation on 10 Jan, near Saturn on 18 Jan and Neptune on 31 Jan.
Mars
Reaches opposition 16 Jan, presents 14 arcsecond disc through the eyepiece.
Jupiter
Well placed evening planet in Taurus, reaching altitude of 59° when due south.
Saturn
Occulted by the Moon on 4 Jan, early evening.
Uranus
Evening planet in Aries, reaching peak altitude of 55° in darkness all through the month.
Neptune
Deteriorating evening planet, west of south as darkness falls at the start of the month.
February 2025
- 1 February: Venus near the 13%-lit waxing crescent Moon (evening)
- 7 February: Jupiter near the crescent Moon before setting (morning)
- 8 February: Callisto 3 arcseconds from Jupiter’s southern limb (19:08 UT)
- 9 February: Mars very close to the Moon’s southern limb (evening)
- 24 February: Titan and its shadow transit Saturn (12:28-18:50 UT)
Mercury
Superior conjunction 9 Feb. Visible approximately 30 minutes after sunset on 25 Feb, 1.5° from Saturn.
Venus
Evening planet, visible soon after sunset. Near 13%-lit waxing Moon on 1 Jan.
Mars
Evening planet over 60° altitude when due south. Very near Moon on 9 Feb at 18:50 UT.
Jupiter
Well-placed evening planet. Near waxing gibbous Moon on the morning of 7 Feb.
Saturn
Deteriorating evening planet. Best at start of February. Near waxing Moon and Venus on 1 Feb.
Uranus
Well positioned evening planet in Aries, best at the start of the month.
Neptune
Evening planet in Pisces which becomes too low to be viable after 7 Feb.
March 2025
- 4 March: Double shadow transit on Jupiter (23:36-01:13 UT)
- 6 March: Lunar X clair-obscur effect visible on the Moon (around 23:00 UT)
- 14 March: Total lunar eclipse (sets during totality from the UK)
- 20 March: March equinox
- 29 March: Partial solar eclipse
Mercury
Evening planet at start of March, greatest eastern elongation 8 March. Lost from view mid-month.
Venus
Evening planet, sets over 3 hours after sunset on 1 March, lost after mid-month.
Mars
Evening planet, 56-arcminutes south of 74%-lit waxing gibbous Moon on 9 March.
Jupiter
Despite losing the battle with brightening evening twilight, remains a decent altitude throughout March.
Saturn
Not visible, ring plane crossing on 23 March.
Uranus
Loses altitude due to brightening spring skies throughout the month.
Neptune
Not visible this month.
April 2025
- 1 April: The Moon occults the Pleiades open cluster (evening)
- 8 April: Jewelled Handle clair-obscur effect visible on the Moon (early morning)
- 16 April: Callisto appears to almost touch Jupiter’s southern pole (22:40 BST (21:40 UT))
- 22 April: Lyrid meteor shower peak
- 25 April: Venus near the Moon (dawn)
Mercury
Morning planet, not visible despite reaching greatest western elongation of 27.4° on 21 April.
Venus
Morning planet, rises 70 mins before sunrise. Forms a small triangle with Saturn and Neptune. 10%-lit waning Moon in triangle on 25 April.
Mars
Deteriorating evening planet. 1.6o south of a 57%-lit waxing Moon on evening of 5 April.
Jupiter
Evening planet, deteriorating through the month. Moon nearby on 2 and 30 April.
Saturn
Hard to see in the morning twilight. Near Venus 23 April.
Uranus
Evening planet, visible near a 16%-lit waxing Moon on 1 April, but rapidly lost.
Neptune
Not visible this month.
May 2025
- 2 May: Vesta reaches opposition, potentially naked-eye visible (evening)
- 4 May: Mars near the Beehive Cluster (evening)
- 5 May: Lunar X clair-obscur effect visible on the Moon (01:14 BST (00:14 UT))
- 15 May: Unusual daylight transit of Titan shadow across Saturn
- 23 May: Approximate start of the Northern Hemisphere’s noctilucent cloud season
Mercury
Morning planet, too low to be seen properly from UK.
Venus
Morning planet, lowering so hard to see before sunrise.
Mars
Evening planet, best at start of May. Crosses the Beehive Cluster M44 on 4 May.
Jupiter
Evening planet in Taurus, compromised by twilight mid-month onwards.
Saturn
Poorly placed morning planet forming a compact triangle with Venus and Neptune early in May.
Uranus
Not visible this month. Solar conjunction on 17 May.
Neptune
Not visible this month.
June 2025
- All month: Keep watch for noctilucent clouds as the season progresses
- 1 June: Venus at greatest western elongation (morning)
- 17 June: Mars and Regulus separated by just 0.7° (morning)
- 19 June: Conjunction of Saturn, the last quarter Moon and Neptune (morning)
- 21 June: Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice
Mercury
Best placed at end of June in evening sky. 2%-lit waxing Moon nearby 26 June.
Venus
Morning planet. Greatest western elongation 1 June.
Mars
Low altitude morning planet. Conjunction with similar brightness Regulus 16 June.
Jupiter
Evening planet, near the Sun. Solar conjunction 24 June, thereafter a morning planet.
Saturn
Another poorly located morning planet, currently close to Neptune.
Uranus
Not visible this month.
Neptune
Difficult morning planet. Possibly visible on 19 June (02:15 BST (01:15 UT)) when near Saturn and 47%-lit waning Moon.
July 2025
- All month: Possible noctilucent cloud displays
- 2 July: Lunar X & V clair-obscur effects visible on the Moon (around 23:40 BST (22:40 UT))
- 4 July: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (evening twilight)
- 16 July: Saturn and Neptune less than a degree apart (01:40 BST (00:40 UT))
- 29/30 July: Peak of the Delta Aquariid meteor shower
Mercury
Greatest eastern elongation (25.9°) on 4 July, poorly located in evening sky.
Venus
In conjunction with Uranus 4 July and near M35 on 31 July.
Mars
Poor position evening planet.
Jupiter
May be visible low above northeast horizon from mid-July in the dawn twilight.
Saturn
Improving morning planet, reaching 34° altitude under relatively dark twilight on 31 July.
Uranus
Low conjunction with Venus on 4 July. Reaching 16° altitude at the end of the month.
Neptune
Very near Saturn. Reaches 30° altitude under darkness by the end of the month.
August 2025
- 11 August: Titan eclipsed by Saturn’s shadow
- 12 August: Venus 0.9° from Jupiter (morning)
- 20 August: Impressive display of planets and the waning crescent Moon (morning)
- 27 August: Titan eclipsed by Saturn’s shadow
- 31 August: Ganymede's shadow transits Jupiter (03:28-06:37 BST (02:28-05:37 UT))
Mercury
Morning planet, difficult to see at the start of the month, easier to spot after 19 Aug.
Venus
Morning planet, near M35 at the start of Aug. Jupiter conjunction 12 Aug. Near M44 31 Aug.
Mars
Poorly located in bright evening twilight.
Jupiter
52 arcseconds from Venus 12 Aug at 04:30 BST (03:30 UT).
Saturn
Morning planet, reaching peak altitude of 35° under darkness from 17 Aug.
Uranus
Morning planet, best end Aug when reaches 48° altitude in dark conditions.
Neptune
Morning planet near Saturn. Reaches peak altitude of 36° under darkness from 17 Aug.
September 2025
- 7 September: Total lunar eclipse at moonrise (evening twilight)
- 12 September: Moon occults the Pleiades (evening)
- 19 September: Daylight lunar occultation of Venus
- 20 September: Titan and its shadow transit Saturn together (from 05:13 BST (04:13 UT))
- 21 September: Saturn at opposition
Mercury
Near Regulus in morning sky, lost from 3 Sept onwards. Solar conjunction on 13 Sept.
Venus
Morning planet rising 3 hours before the Sun on 1 Sept. Daylight lunar occultation on 19th Sept.
Mars
Evening planet not visible this month.
Jupiter
Improving morning planet reaching 51° altitude on 30 Sept. Near Wasat 6 & 7 Sept.
Saturn
Well presented this month, opposition on 21 Sept with a peak altitude around 34°.
Uranus
Improving morning planet, reaching peak altitude of 57° in darkness from 22 Sept on.
Neptune
Near Saturn, reaching opposition on 23 Sept.
October 2025
- 2 October: Dwarf planet Ceres at opposition (evening)
- 6 October: Titan and its shadow transit Saturn (from 02:25 BST (01:25 UT))
- 7 October: Harvest Moon for 2025
- 21 October: Orionid meteor shower peak
- 26 October: End of British Summer Time, clocks go back an hour
- 29 October: Titan occulted by Saturn (20:38 UT)
Mercury
Greatest eastern elongation on 29 October, but too low in the evening sky to be seen.
Venus
Morning planet, rising 2 hours and 15 minutes before sunrise on 1 October. Harder to see at the end of October.
Mars
Evening planet, not visible.
Jupiter
Bright morning planet. Reaches 58° altitude under darkness at end of month.
Saturn
Evening planet, in Aquarius. Reaches 34° altitude from the UK.
Uranus
Well-placed morning planet south of the Pleiades, reaching 57° altitude.
Neptune
Evening planet, in Pisces. Reaches 36° altitude when due south.
November 2025
- 8-11 November: Comet 24P/Schaumasse crosses the Beehive Cluster, M44
- 14 November: Titan occulted and partially eclipsed by Saturn
- 17 November: Leonid meteor shower peak
- 21 November: Uranus at opposition (evening)
- 22 November: Titan transits Saturn (18:52-01:10 UT)
Mercury
After inferior conjunction on 20 November, visible in the morning sky at the end of the month.
Venus
Morning planet rising 1 hour 40 minutes before sunrise on 1 November, lost by the end of the month.
Mars
Not visible this month.
Jupiter
Superb morning planet in Gemini reaching just shy of 60° altitude when due south.
Saturn
Well-positioned evening planet, reaching 33° altitude under dark sky conditions all month.
Uranus
Well-positioned evening planet, reaching 57° altitude when due south. Opposition on 21 November.
Neptune
Evening planet near Saturn.
December 2025
- 4 December: Moon occults the Pleiades (early morning)
- 8 December: Titan transits Saturn (17:38-23:52 UT)
- 13/14 December: Geminid meteor shower peak
- 22 December: Ursid meteor shower peak
- 24 December: Titan transits Saturn (16:58-22:59 UT)
Mercury
Morning planet visible until around 23 Dec, greatest western elongation on 7 Dec.
Venus
Morning planet but not visible this month.
Mars
Evening planet too close to the Sun to be visible.
Jupiter
If observing the planets tonight, this is the one to focus on. Superbly positioned morning planet reaching just shy of 60° altitude when due south.
Saturn
Evening planet just able to reach peak altitude of 33° under darkness all month.
Uranus
Nicely placed evening planet, mag. +5.6 in Taurus south of the Pleiades.
Neptune
Evening binocular planet located close to Saturn. Peak altitude of 36° when due south.
Are you a planetary observer or imager? Share your observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
