A Rare Five Planet ‘Parade’ Will All Be Visible in the Sky This Week. Here’s How to See it – NBC Chicago

Look up! For the first time in nearly two decades, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be visible in the Chicago area — at the same time — to the naked eye this week. And the best day to see it may be June 24.

According to the Adler Planetarium, it’s the first time since 2004 this five planet “parade” will be visible.

The rare planet alignment began earlier this month, when Saturn rose on June 14. Later that morning, came Jupiter, and then Mars, below and to the left. Those two planets were much closer at the start of the month, but grew apart as the month progressed, Adler said.

Towards the second half of June, below and to the left of Venus — the brightest planet — Mercury became visible.

This week and next, the Moon will move near each planet, Adler said. On June 18, a ‘waning gibbous moon’ appeared just below Saturn.

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the week:

• June 21: A waning crescent moon appears below Jupiter
• June 22: A waning crescent moon appears to the right of Mars
• June 26: A very slim waning crescent moon appears to the left left of Venus
• June 27: An even slimmer crescent appears to the left of Mercury

Is it a Planet, or a Star?

According to Adler, stars twinkle and planets don’t.

How and When to See the Alignment

You’ll have to get up early.

Look up, about 45 minutes before sunrise — about one-third of the way above the southern horizon line, and then down to the east and northeast, Adler said.

The planetary alignment will continue through June 30. Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest and easiest to see.

If conditions are clear, the planets should be bright enough to see them with the naked eye.

Mercury, being closest to the horizon, appeared faintest in the sky at the beginning of the month, but it’s become easier to spot as the month progressed, according to Sky & Telescope.

The magazine also noted that the best opportunity to see the spectacle may be on June 24 as Mercury should be up to about an hour before the sun and a crescent moon will also be visible between Venus and Mars, serving as a “proxy Earth.”

What Makes the Planet Alignment Rare?

While it’s common to see two planets appear close together in the night sky, the celestial phenomenon — known as a conjunction — is much more rare when more planets are involved.

After June, the planets will begin to spread out in the predawn sky, “so much so that Venus and Saturn will make their exits as morning objects for most observers by September,” according to NASA.