Five-Planet Alignment to Illuminate the Night Sky in March 2023

 

Skywatchers will have a chance to see a five-planet alignment in March 2023, with Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars appearing in the night sky near a waxing crescent moon. While the alignment will be visible from all parts of the world, an unobstructed view of the horizon will be necessary to have the best chance of seeing it. Venus will be the easiest planet to spot, while Uranus will be faint and visible only with binoculars. This event is not a true planetary alignment, where planets appear in a line, but an opportunity to see five different planets in the sky at the same time. The last true planetary alignment happened in June 2022, and a similar event will not happen for another 40 years. Skywatchers can observe the event by waiting until after sunset and looking low in the sky where the sun has just set with binoculars to see brighter Jupiter next to fainter Mercury. Mars will shine relatively brighter near the moon.