Planets Visible Tonight in West Des Moines, IA
Planet Visibility & Viewing Times
Here are the planets visible in West Des Moines, IA on 2026-03-21. This chart shows when each planet rises, when it’s highest in the sky, when it sets, and how bright it appears from Earth — so you can decide the best time to look. Visibility also depends on weather conditions and how clear your local sky is.
| Planet | Rises | Highest In Sky | Sets | Magnitude | Brightness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 6:22 A.M. E |
11:57 A.M. 40° |
5:32 P.M. W |
1.2 | ✨ Very bright |
| Venus | 8:02 A.M. E |
2:29 P.M. 55° |
8:57 P.M. W |
-3.8 | ⭐ Brilliant |
| Mars | 6:47 A.M. E |
12:25 P.M. 41° |
6:03 P.M. W |
1.2 | ✨ Very bright |
| Jupiter | 12:52 P.M. NE |
8:23 P.M. 71° |
3:57 A.M. NW |
-2.2 | ⭐ Brilliant |
| Saturn | 7:35 A.M. E |
1:37 P.M. 48° |
7:38 P.M. W |
0.9 | ✨ Very bright |
| Uranus | 9:46 A.M. NE |
5:02 P.M. 68° |
12:21 A.M. NW |
5.8 | ✖ Binoculars recommended |
| Neptune | 7:26 A.M. E |
1:26 P.M. 47° |
7:27 P.M. W |
8.0 | 🔭 Telescope recommended |
- Rises – When the planet first appears above your horizon.
- Highest in the Sky – When it reaches its highest point overhead (usually the best time to view).
- Sets – When it drops below the horizon.
- Magnitude – A number showing how bright the planet appears from Earth (lower numbers mean brighter and easier to see).
- Brightness – A simple rating that tells you how easy the planet may be to spot.
For the best view, look when a planet is high in the sky and the Sun has fully set.
All times shown are local time for the selected location.