Six Planets to Align in Wyoming’s Night Sky This Weekend

A rare planetary spectacle will take place across Wyoming’s night sky this Friday and Saturday, as six planets align in a stunning arc visible after sunset, Cowboy State Daily report.

The parade will feature Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars, offering a unique celestial display.

According to Max Gilbraith, the planetarium coordinator for the University of Wyoming, this parade of planets presents a fantastic opportunity for skywatchers.

“The planets won’t be particularly close together, but they’ll all be visible in one shot,” he explained.

Gilbraith noted that the lack of moonlight will allow for better visibility of the dimmer planets.

The parade will begin just after sunset, with Saturn appearing first, situated in the western part of the sky. Venus will follow, positioned higher up, and Neptune and Uranus will be visible next, though binoculars or a small telescope may be needed to spot them due to their dimness. Jupiter will be the highest planet in the sky, almost directly south, while Mars will appear in the eastern half of the sky.

To get the best view of this alignment, Gilbraith recommends heading to the highest vantage point between 5:10 and 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights.

“If there’s a little sky glow from the sun at twilight, you’ll probably miss Neptune, but it’s not really the star of the show,” he said. “Venus will set by 8:30 p.m., so you’ll want to catch the parade before then.”

While parades of planets are not uncommon, seeing six planets aligned in such a visible way is a rare treat. Gilbraith noted that, although the alignment is not a true “solar system alignment,” it is an impressive sight for those on Earth, with planets trailing through the sky in an easily observable formation.

The next planetary parade will occur on February 28, but it will be more astrologically perfect and less impressive for casual observers. This upcoming event will provide a brief moment when all seven planets will be visible, but some will be difficult to see, including Saturn, which will be too close to the sun to spot.

For this weekend’s event, stargazers should be able to see Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn without difficulty, as these planets are some of the brightest objects in the night sky. Uranus will also be relatively easy to spot, particularly with binoculars. However, Neptune will be more challenging and may require a high-quality telescope.

With clear skies and no moonlight, Wyoming residents are encouraged to take a moment to enjoy this rare planetary parade while it lasts. It’s a sight that won’t come around again soon.