September 29, 2025: The five-planet display is breaking apart as Saturn and Neptune sink into the thicker air at the horizon. Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus remain visible in the morning twilight, while the First Quarter moon highlights the evening sky.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:46 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:35 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
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Bright Planet Display
Bright planets and fainter ones are in the sky throughout the night. The five-planet display dissolves as Saturn and Neptune are hidden behind the thicker horizon as Venus is visible in the eastern sky. After sunset, the First Quarter moon is in the southern sky, while Saturn leads the nightly planet display from the east-southeast.
Venus
As morning twilight begins about 90 minutes before sunrise, brilliant Venus is over 5° above the eastern horizon, 12° to Regulus’ lower left, Leo’s brightest star. With a binocular, look for Rho Leonis (ρ Leo) about midway from Regulus to the brilliant planet.
Jupiter
At this hour, Jupiter is over halfway up in the east-southeast. As the second brightest starlike body in the sky this morning, it is about 50° to Venus’ upper right. It slowly rambles eastward in front of Gemini, 6.8° to Pollux’ lower right.
Uranus
Uranus is high in the south with Taurus, initially identified by Alebaran, the Bull’s brightest star. It is in the same binocular field with the Pleiades star cluster, that rides on the bovine’s back. The planet is visible to the unaided eye in rural settings. Use a binocular to see the planet as an aquamarine star.
Saturn (and Neptune)
Farther westward, Saturn is less than 10° above the western horizon. In a few days, disappears behind the thicker atmosphere that blurs and dims celestial bodies, an effect that is seen easily with the rising and setting sun and moon. This essentially ends the display of five morning planets, though the Venus-Saturn opposition does not occur until October 17th, technically ending the planet parade.
At this hour, Neptune is already affected by the thicker atmosphere. It is better observed when it is higher in the sky. The solar system’s most distant planet is in the same binocular field with the Ringed Wonder.
For realistic views of the planets during October, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune are visible after midnight, while Venus, Jupiter and Uranus in the morning sky as twilight begins. Only Venus and Jupiter are seen during the brighter phase of morning twilight.
After Sunset
Mercury and Mars are hidden by bright western evening twilight. The innermost planet sets 28 minutes after nightfall, while Mars sets 37 minutes later.
First Quarter Moon and Teapot
This evening the First Quarter moon is nearly 20° up in the south. It is in front of Sagittarius. Its brightest stars are sometimes known as the Teapot. Even though the moon is half full, its light washes out the dimmer stars in its region. Use a binocular to trace the pot’s shape.
Later tonight – tomorrow night in the eastern hemisphere – the lunar orb occults (eclipses) the star Tau Sagittarii (τ Sgr) for sky watchers in southern Asia and the Middle East’s south.
Evening Saturn
An hour after sunset, Saturn is low in the east-southeast – leading the planet parade westward.
Look for the morning planets as the Saturn and Neptune dip behind the atmosphere at the horizon. Find the evening half-full moon after sundown.
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