A celestial "parade" is set to put on a show for spectators looking up to catch a glimpse.
Usually, people can look up at the sky and spot at least one planet. Two or three planets are also commonly hanging out in the night sky, according to NASA. But what about when four, five or even six planets are visible?
When that happens, it can be referred to as a "planetary parade," or the technical term, planetary alignment. The planets can appear to be marching across the sky in a straight line.
Another planetary parade happened earlier this year, in February. And next week, it's set to happen again as six planets will "parade" across the sky, according to the Planetary Society and Star Walk. While some will need either binoculars or a telescope to view
the spectacle, others will be bright enough to spot with the naked eye.
Here's what to know about the upcoming planetary parade.
When is the planetary parade? Where will it be visible?
The phenomena will be visible across the globe, in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The main date for the planetary parade is Wednesday, Aug. 12. It will be visible in the United States in the early morning hours before sunrise. But it may also be visible on Tuesday, Aug. 11 and Thursday, Aug. 13. The day that will provide the best viewing depends on where spectators are located and the time the sun begins to rise.
Which planets will be visible during the planetary parade?
The following planets will be visible, starting from the east and heading west/south west, according to StarWalk:
- Jupiter
- Mercury
- Mars
- Uranus
- Saturn
- Neptune
Mars and Neptune will be the easiest planets to spot, but spectators will need binoculars to see Uranus and a telescope to see Neptune. Mercury and Jupiter will sit low on the horizon, and their view can be obstructed if the horizon isn't clear. The two planets can also be hidden by the sun's bright light.
What is a planetary parade?
When multiple planets are visible in the night sky, people refer to it as a planetary alignment or parade, according to NASA. They can create an optical illusion that looks like the planets are going in a straight line.
True planetary alignment is virtually impossible.
"The term planetary parade is a colloquial term. It's not an official astronomical one," Andrew Fazekas, the communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders, previously told USA TODAY. "It just simply means that the planets are visible in, generally, the same area of the sky."
Tips for viewing the planetary parade
Fazekas advises people to do the following when trying to see the planets in the coming days:
- Get up early, before sunrise. Be at the stargazing location ready to see the planets at least 45 minutes before the sun rises.
- Find a spot with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern and southern horizon.
- Steer clear of light pollution and move away from cities.
- Have your binoculars or telescope ready to view planets that aren't visible to the naked eye.
- Use stargazing apps like Stellarium or SkySafari.
Be sure to also pack any mosquito repellent and check the weather ahead of time to make sure skies are clear.
Other celestial events happening next week
In addition to the planetary parade's main date of Aug. 12, there will also be a total solar eclipse on the same day. While the total solar eclipse won't be visible in the U.S., some states from Alaska to North Carolina will be able to see a partial solar eclipse while using special solar eclipse glasses, which will look like the sun has a small bite taken out of it, according to NASA.
Other events include the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks from the evening of Aug. 12 to the morning of Aug. 13.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Planets will align in a celestial 'parade' soon. See when
