The positions of the planets looking at the solar system from 'above' (Meridian v4.8).

Jupiter is nearing conjunction (when it is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth), which it will reach on October 22. The gas giant sets less than an hour after sunset and is probably not visible in the Sun's glare. The Earth is overtaking Mars, which rises three hours before midnight and is a bright orange "star" visible in the east before midnight and high in the south before dawn. It will reach opposition (when Earth is between it and the Sun) on November 7. Earth has passed up Uranus and Neptune, both of which rise before sunset and are visible throughout the evening. Neptune reached opposition on August 8 and Uranus reached opposition on September 1. The Earth is catching up Saturn so the ringed planet is visible in the eastern sky before dawn. Mercury has passed behind the Sun and although it is just above the horizon at dawn, it wil be hidden by the Sun's glare. Venus is slowly overtaking the Earth and will pass between the Sun and the Earth, reaching inferior conjunction in mid January. It will shine low in the western sky just after sunset for the next several months until it disappears in the Sun's glare in early December.