See Six Planets in Spectacular Parade This Weekend

A planet parade is happening this weekend, with six planets visible in the night sky – Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. The best viewing time for observers in the Northern Hemisphere will be just after sunset at around 8:30 p.m. local time.

Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn can be seen with the naked eye, while Neptune and Uranus require a high-powered telescope to spot. Due to their long duration, most locations in the US, Canada, and Mexico should be able to see the parade this weekend.

Astronomers recommend using telescopes with at least an 8-inch aperture for Neptune and its rings, and 150 times magnification. The planets will remain visible until late February, after which a seven-planet parade will begin as Mercury joins the sky for a brief period.

The parade can be tracked with online tools such as Stellarium’s website or Time and Date’s Night Sky Map. These resources provide an idea of each planet’s position in relation to others.

Source: https://www.cnet.com/science/how-to-see-planet-parade-six-planets-in-the-sky-this-weekend