Friends, six planets will line up this week, lighting up the night sky.
On August 28, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn will line up to delight our eyes. The best time to see this unusual planetary parade is in the early morning, just before sunrise.
Bonus: Depending on the cloud cover, you might even be able to see the moon.
What are planetary configurations?
This week, the six planets of our solar system will line up in the sky. Shutterstock
When two or more planets line up in the sky, the alignment goes from bottom to top. When three planets line up, it's called a mini alignment. Four planets is considered a small alignment, five or more is a large alignment. And in the very rare case of eight planets, or eight plus Pluto, in a line, it's a major alignment, or a complete alignment.
What is Planet Parade?
Planet Parade is not a technical definition. lukszczepanski – stock.adobe.com
When five or more planets line up in a small area of sky, the configuration is upgraded to parade status, which is not an official astronomy term but one that's used more whimsically, capriciously and flippantly than space buffs would normally admit.
This week's event has been cut.
The first planet to appear is Saturn. Shutterstock
As Time magazine reports, the parade of planets will be far from a straight line and is mostly an optical illusion: Unlike the 1974 alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune photographed by the Voyager spacecraft, the planets visible on August 28 will move across the sky at different depths, distances, and positions.
Time magazine likens the phenomenon to “placing six people at random in six different locations in a field and positioning themselves so that they can all be captured in the camera's lens at once.”
When is the Planet Parade?
For best viewing, look up at the sky about an hour before sunrise. revers_jr – stock.adobe.com
The best time to observe this celestial phenomenon will be about an hour before sunrise on the 28th, around 5:20 a.m. in New York.
If you can't wake up before dawn, don't worry: you'll be able to see the arrangement for the next few days.
Where to watch
All but two of the planets in the parade are visible to the naked eye / astrosystem – stock.adobe.com
As with all awe-inspiring space phenomena, the closer you are to the dark sky cluster and the further away from light pollution, the better the views. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can be seen with the naked eye, but you'll need a telescope or good binoculars to see Neptune and Uranus.
Plants appear in different colors at different times.
Saturn will be the first to appear. As it begins to become visible late in the evening, it will have a yellowish color. Neptune will appear second, near the constellation Pisces, followed by Uranus. Jupiter and Mars will rise near the waning crescent Moon. Finally, Mercury will rise, appearing just before dawn.
How to Know If You're Looking at a Planet and Not a Star
Unlike stars, planets do not twinkle. tugolukof – stock.adobe.com
Jupiter is easy to spot in a dark sky because it's the second brightest object after the Moon. The other objects are slightly dimmer and therefore a bit more difficult to distinguish.
An important difference is that planets don't twinkle like stars do.
Using your phone can sometimes ruin the dark sky viewing experience, but using an astronomy app like Starwalk can ensure you're looking up at the right target.
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When is the next planetary alignment?
The next planetary parade will take place on January 18, 2025. DINESH MADUSANKA – stock.adobe.com
After this week's parade, the next alignment will be on January 18, 2025, when six planets will appear together in the night sky: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus.
The following month, on February 28, 2025, seven planets will be visible at the same time: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars.
Introduction to Astrology: Your Guide to the Stars
Astrologer Leda Uygur studies and honestly reports on the planetary alignments and their impact on each sign. Her horoscopes are a blend of history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
