ORLANDO, Fla. – Get ready for a cosmic treat. A planet parade will be gracing our skies, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
A planetary alignment featuring seven planets will light up the evening sky on Friday, with Mercury joining Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn.
Just note: not all of these planets will be easy to spot with the naked eye. Uranus and Neptune, for example, will need some binoculars or a telescope to catch.
Where to catch the action:
For the best view, head to a spot with minimal light pollution and a clear horizon.
Saturn and Neptune will be tricky to spot since they’re hanging low near the horizon and the sun, but if you’re lucky, you might catch them in the west right after sunset.
Mercury should also make an appearance in the western sky shortly after the sun dips below the horizon.
So, grab your gear, find a great spot, and get ready for a stellar night under the stars!
Don’t worry, the planets will align again:
If you miss this week’s celestial show, there’s more cosmic displays on the horizon. Night sky explorers can look forward to even more planetary alignments coming up in 2025 and 2026:
- April 17, 2025: Four planets—Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, and Venus—will align.
- Aug. 10, 2025: Six planets—Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn—will be visible in perfect alignment.
- Feb. 28, 2026: Another six-planet alignment with Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter lighting up the sky.
So, if this one leaves you starstruck, you’ve got plenty more chances to catch the planets in action!