Alton, Mo. – The night sky should be clear on Friday, offering those outside a rare view: the alignment of seven planets! This rarity will not happen again until 2040. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn can be seen.
Sights All Week?
Although with good eyesight, one may see them Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday offers the best viewing. For Oregon County, Missouri, Tuesday and Wednesday bring clouds, limiting the views.
When And Where To Look
You need a good view of the horizon and clear skies to spot them all. However, the window to see all seven planets will be very brief. Go outdoors a few minutes before you want to see them to allow your eyes to adjust. Then look to the west or southwest.
Saturn and Mercury will also be setting as the sun sets, making them particularly difficult to see.
You only have a few minutes after sunset to see them before they drop below the horizon. After that, you will still be able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for a much longer time,
Venus and Jupiter will be the easiest to spot due to their brightness, while Mars will have a distinct reddish hue. Uranus is technically visible to the naked eye, but perfect eyesight and ideal conditions are required.
Next Alignment
The next seven-planetary alignment will not occur until 2040. However, later this year, four and six planets will line up. Then, in February 2026, six planets will again align.
