Home Night Sky South Africa
Night Time
12 hours, 48 minutes
Thu, Apr 18 at 6:22 pm – Fri, Apr 19 at 7:09 am
Visible tonight, Apr 18 – Apr 19, 2024
| Mercury: | From Fri 6:15 am |
|---|---|
| Venus: | From Fri 6:12 am |
| Mars: | From Fri 4:10 am |
| Jupiter: | Until Thu 7:32 pm |
| Saturn: | From Fri 3:44 am |
| Uranus: | Until Thu 7:32 pm |
| Neptune: | From Fri 4:45 am |
April 21: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks at Perihelion (Closest Point to Sun)
At most latitudes, you might be able to catch the faint comet this week after sunset, as the sky becomes dark. Find 12P/Pons-Brooks in our Night Sky Map. (The size and brightness of the comet has been exaggerated to show its position more clearly.)
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Tonight's Sky in South Africa, Apr 18 – Apr 19, 2024 (7 planets visible)
Mercury rise and set in South Africa
Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see.
Mercury is just 11 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult or impossible to see it.
Fri, Apr 19 ↑6:15 am
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Mercury
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Venus rise and set in South Africa
Try before sunrise.
Venus rises shortly before sunrise, so it is very close to the horizon. This makes it very difficult to observe. Venus is visible by day, but may be hard to find.
Fri, Apr 19 ↑6:12 am
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Venus
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Mars rise and set in South Africa
View before sunrise.
Mars can best be seen in the hours just before sunrise. Visibility deteriorates as the sky gets brighter.
Fri, Apr 19 ↑4:10 am
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Mars
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Jupiter rise and set in South Africa
View just after sunset.
Jupiter is close to the Sun and can only be seen shortly after sunset. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon.
Thu, Apr 18 ↓7:32 pm
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Jupiter
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Saturn rise and set in South Africa
View before sunrise.
Saturn can best be seen in the hours just before sunrise. Visibility deteriorates as the sky gets brighter.
Fri, Apr 19 ↑3:44 am
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Saturn
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Uranus rise and set in South Africa
Fairly close to the Sun. Visible only after sunset. Bring binoculars (but don't look at the Sun!).
Uranus is just 23 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. You may need binoculars, but only use them when sun is down.
Thu, Apr 18 ↓7:32 pm
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Uranus
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Neptune rise and set in South Africa
Fairly close to the Sun. Visible only before sunrise and/or after sunset. Bring binoculars (but don't look at the Sun!).
Neptune is just 30 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. You may need binoculars, but only use them when sun is down.
Fri, Apr 19 ↑4:45 am
Apr 18, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
Neptune
Time:
Altitude: °
Direction: °
Planets Visible in South Africa
| Planetrise/Planetset, Thu, Apr 18, 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet | Rise | Set | Meridian | Comment |
| Mercury | Fri 6:15 am | Fri 5:43 pm | Fri 11:58 am | Extremely difficult to see |
| Venus | Fri 6:12 am | Fri 5:50 pm | Fri 12:01 pm | Slightly difficult to see |
| Mars | Fri 4:10 am | Fri 4:38 pm | Fri 10:24 am | Average visibility |
| Jupiter | Thu 8:55 am | Thu 7:32 pm | Thu 2:14 pm | Average visibility |
| Saturn | Fri 3:44 am | Fri 4:23 pm | Fri 10:04 am | Average visibility |
| Uranus | Thu 8:58 am | Thu 7:32 pm | Thu 2:15 pm | Extremely difficult to see |
| Neptune | Fri 4:45 am | Fri 4:57 pm | Fri 10:51 am | Extremely difficult to see |
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