On August 10, six planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will line up in an arc within the night time sky. 4 of those planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn—may be seen with the bare eye, whereas Uranus and Neptune might be seen by a really sturdy pair of skywatching binoculars or a yard telescope.
Whereas August 10 marks the start of this planetary parade, these six planets might be seen till the ultimate days of August, when Mercury sinks decrease on the horizon and meanders too near the solar to be noticed safely. The following time that each one of those planets might be seen collectively gained’t be till February 2026, so that you gained’t need to miss this alignment.
Whereas this planetary parade begins on the tenth, the most effective date to view these planets is on the nights main as much as August 23, when there might be little to no moonlight and when Mercury might be at its furthest level from the solar.
Moonlight and synthetic mild can wash out objects within the night time sky, so that you’ll need to do your skywatching below a transparent, moonless sky and away from synthetic mild. In the event you should use a flashlight, go for one with purple mild to protect your night time imaginative and prescient.
What to Count on
Rising first are Neptune and Saturn, adopted by Uranus, then Venus and Jupiter, and eventually Mercury.
As soon as these planets are above the horizon on August 10, for those who’re within the northern hemisphere, you will note Neptune and Saturn to the southwest (about 40 levels above the horizon), adopted by Uranus to the southeast (about 55 levels above the horizon). Finishing the arc within the east are Venus and Jupiter (each simply over 20 levels above the horizon) and lastly Mercury, which can simply barely eke over the japanese horizon.
In the event you’re within the southern hemisphere, as a substitute of trying south, you’d look north to see these objects: Neptune and Saturn can be within the northwest, adopted by Uranus within the north and barely to the east. Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury can be barely extra to the northeast within the southern hemisphere, and they’d be a couple of levels decrease on the horizon than within the northern hemisphere.
Right here’s what it is advisable learn about every of those planets and the best way to discover them.
Neptune and Saturn
First, Neptune and Saturn rise collectively between about 8:30 pm and 10 pm native time in lots of places in each hemispheres. The precise instances that the planets rise and set will fluctuate relying in your actual location; you should use web sites like Time and Date to search out actual instances.
Neptune and Saturn will stay collectively till they set in midmorning. They are going to seem barely to the west of the moon, below the constellation Pisces.
Saturn could be very brilliant and simply seen to the bare eye. You possibly can spot Saturn’s marvellous rings with a pair of skywatching binoculars or a yard telescope. Seeing Saturn’s rings for the primary time is without doubt one of the most awe-inspiring moments you possibly can have when stargazing.
