Planets
Five planets are easy to see with your eyes alone. Here’s where each one is tonight, and when it rises, sets or climbs highest.
Tonight
Times for London (default place) · Change
And Earth, the planet you’re standing on.
Finding planets
Planets never stray far from the ecliptic, the line the Sun and Moon follow across the sky. They shine with a steadier light than stars and slowly shift position from week to week. Venus and Jupiter are usually the brightest points in the night sky after the Moon; Mars changes a lot in brightness depending on how close it is to Earth.
“Above the horizon after dark” is only geometry. A planet low in twilight can still be lost in haze, behind buildings or under clouds. In the app, SkyMate also checks your weather, your own horizon and what your equipment can show.