6 Planets Will Be Visible in the Sky This Week—Here's How to See the Planetary Parade

From northern lights sightings to the Perseid meteor shower, this summer has dazzled stargazers across the country. While the end of the season is near, the celestial events aren't slowing down any time soon. This month, don't miss an impressive planetary parade in the sky.

From now until Wednesday, August 20, you can spot six planets in the morning sky in what is known as a planetary parade. These events occur when the planets appear to line up in the sky simultaneously. According to NASA, planetary parades are not unusual, but they give stargazers the opportunity to “appreciate our place in our solar system.”

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What makes this month's "parade" special is that it's an opportunity to see multiple planets with the naked eye. This week, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and a dim Mercury will be visible with the unaided eye, while Uranus and Neptune can be seen with binoculars or a telescope. Although most of these planets have been visible in the morning sky for weeks now, Mercury will join the group, bringing the planet count from five to six.

The best time to spot the alignment is August 18 to 19, when the thin crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Venus. According to BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the Moon will break the alignment by August 20 to 21, forming a triangle with Venus and Jupiter. As the month progresses, Mercury will become difficult to see due to the sun's glare.

To spot the planets, head out in the morning before sunrise and look east. Jupiter and Venus will be clustered together and easiest to spot since they're the brightest planets. Saturn will be off to the side, and Mercury will be close to the horizon. Find a spot with a clear, unobstructed view, away from tall buildings and trees. And steer clear of light pollution.