The six planets, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, will appear together in the dark night sky for almost a week starting Sunday, August 17th.
The last celestial gathering seen in February appears in the eastern sky about an hour before sunrise. Most of these planets have been seen in the morning sky for several weeks, but Mercury joins the fight, bringing planetary numbers to five to six.
Under the clear sky, you should be able to find Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. Mercury is closer to the horizon, but brighter as much as most observers see it. However, Uranus (which appears between Jupiter and Saturn in the sky) and Neptune (close to Saturn in the sky) are too thin and far away, visible to the thin eye. The only way to see these two ice giants is to use a great telescope.
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Although six planets appear in the sky at the same time, the beauty of the scenery is greatly increased by the waning crescent moon.
Related: How to take photos of the moon: Camera gear, settings, and configuration tips
On August 17th and August 18th, the crescent moon rises above Jupiter and Venus. The two brightest planets in the night sky slowly separate after an incredibly close conjunction on August 12th.
Mercury may be visible below Jupiter and Venus, but it will be easier to see on August 19th. That morning, on August 20th, the slim crescent moon will be very close to Jupiter and Venus, the visual highlights of the Planet Parade.
By around August 21st, Mercury begins to return to its sun’s glare, making it even more difficult to see.
According to the Star Walk app, there will be two six Planet parades in 2026. One is after the sun set in February, and the other is before sunrise in August.
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