Six planets, one stretch of sky, and a moment that rarely happens all at once. This weekend, skywatchers who look up at just the right time could witness a stunning lineup that astronomers call a “planet parade.” To the naked eye, it may look like several worlds gathering together above the horizon in a silent cosmic show, but,
In reality the planets are still separated by millions of miles, only appearing aligned because they orbit along the same flat path around the Sun. With Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn visible without equipment—and Uranus and Neptune appearing through binoculars—the view could become one of the most memorable night skies of the year. The real surprise, however, is how easy it may be to miss if you don’t know exactly when to look, therefore,