A spectacular celestial event is unfolding in the night sky as four planets – Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – can be seen with naked eyes, while two others, Uranus and Neptune, require telescopes. The second and last “planet parade” of the year will occur this week, presenting a rare opportunity to spot up to six planets at once.
Currently, Mercury is visible in the east before dawn, with Venus and Jupiter higher near the moon. Saturn is high toward the south. As Mercury rises around 5 a.m., it will be most visible between 5:30 and 6 a.m. The “planet parade” ends later this month as Mercury moves closer to the horizon.
The planets’ alignment occurs because they all orbit in the same disc-like plane as Earth, viewed from our vantage point. This rare event happens every few years, with the next predicted occurrence in October 2028 when five planets will be visible before sunrise.
Astronomers recommend looking for the crescent moon near Jupiter on Tuesday morning and near Venus on Wednesday to aid in identifying the planets. Chris Vaughan notes that this could create good photo opportunities, while Andrew Fazekas emphasizes the importance of spotting these planets as an observing challenge rather than a spectacle.
View the planet parade in the east before dawn, ideally 45 minutes before sunrise. Use binoculars or a telescope for Uranus and Neptune, respectively. This celestial event is a unique chance to witness several planets aligned in the sky.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/planet-parade-1.7611658