The Sky Today on Saturday, November 29: Mercury’s retrograde path ends

Planet Mercury reaches a stationary point in Libra, ending its motion westward across the sky and beginning to move east once more.
By | Published: November 29, 2025

Mercury and Venus are visible above the eastern horizon shortly before sunrise today. If you tried to view the pair last week, you’ll note that Mercury is much brighter and easier to spot by now. Credit: Stellarium
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • On November 28, Mercury reached its stationary point at 10 A.M. EST, signifying a shift from retrograde to prograde motion and becoming visible in the eastern pre-dawn sky at magnitude 0.4, displaying an 8”-wide, 30-percent illuminated disk.
  • During the same pre-dawn period, Venus was observable at magnitude –3.9, presenting a 10”-diameter disk that was 99 percent illuminated.
  • Later that day, the Moon performed two close passes: 4° north of Saturn at 2 P.M. EST, followed by 3° north of Neptune at 9 P.M. EST, subsequently residing in Pisces.
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. 

November 28: Saturn stands still

Mercury comes to its stationary point at 10 A.M. EST, ending its retrograde path and turning to slide eastward (prograde) against the background stars once more. The solar system’s smallest planet, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise, shines at magnitude 0.4, significantly brighter than the last time we viewed it a few days ago. 

Try for it some 40 minutes before sunrise, when Mercury is 8° high and climbing above the eastern horizon in the constellation Libra. Bright Venus — magnitude –3.9 — has just cleared the horizon at this time. Give it another 10 minutes, and it reaches 2° in altitude. You’ll need a clear horizon to spot it, but it’s bright, which certainly helps. 

If you’ve got a telescope, take a few minutes to observe each of the two planets through the eyepiece before you need to pack away your equipment prior to sunrise. Mercury’s 8”-wide disk is some 30 percent lit; compare this with Venus 10”-diameter disk, which is nearly fully illuminated at 99 percent.

Later today, the Moon passes 4° north of Saturn at 2 P.M. EST, then passes 3° north of Neptune at 9 P.M. EST.  By evening, our satellite will lie in Pisces, now to the upper left of naked-eye Saturn, reversing the pair’s positions from yesterday.

Sunrise: 7:01 A.M.
Sunset: 4:35 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:12 P.M.
Moonset: 12:33 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (70%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location.

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