Look Up! A Six-Planet Parade Shines Across the Sky Tonight
Tonight, six planets will align in a stunning display visible across the sky
Planets, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Skywatching, Canada
City: Toronto
Hey there! So, guess what? Tonight, if you look up, you’ll see a fantastic sight. Six planets are putting on a show in the sky. It’s called a ‘planet parade,’ and it’s happening for at least a month.
After sunset, just turn your gaze to the southern sky. You’ll spot red Mars first, which just had a close encounter with Earth. Then, look southeast for Jupiter, the brightest star in that area. And don’t forget to check out Venus to the southwest; it’s even brighter than Jupiter!
If you’ve got binoculars or a small telescope, you can find Uranus and Neptune too, but they’re a bit trickier to spot. For most folks, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn will be the main stars of the show.
As you look around, you might also see Aldebaran, a bright star near Jupiter, and The Pleiades star cluster a bit to the west. If you follow a line from Aldebaran to The Pleiades, you might just catch a glimpse of Uranus.
And for Neptune, center on Venus and then pan back east towards Jupiter. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt in the sky!
This parade isn’t just a one-night deal. You can catch it again over the next month, but the planets will shift a little each night. By late February, you’ll see Mercury joining the lineup as Saturn sets earlier.
Even though it looks like they’re all lined up, it’s just the way our solar system is set up. They’re not truly aligned in space, but they sure look great from our view here on Earth.
So, grab a friend, head outside, and enjoy the cosmic show tonight!