Overview
- Look west about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset to spot Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter, while Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a small telescope.
- The viewing window is short because the lower planets sink quickly in twilight, so a clear, unobstructed western horizon is essential.
- The display should be visible from many places on Earth, though clouds, light pollution and bright moonlight could limit how many planets you can see.
- Mars is not part of this lineup, which features six planets appearing along the same sky path rather than physically aligned in space.
- Although the parade is observable for several days, Saturday offers the peak single-evening view according to NASA and multiple astronomy guides.