Rare Planet Parade This Weekend in Upstate New York Skies

Stargazers across Upstate New York will want to bundle up and look west this Saturday (February 28th). A rare planetary parade is set to appear in the evening sky, giving us a chance to see several planets gathered together at once.

A planetary parade happens when multiple planets appear clustered on the same side of the sun. They are not perfectly lined up, but from our view on Earth, they look close together.

According to NASA, it is common to spot two or three planets after sunset. Seeing four or five at the same time without special equipment is less frequent and only happens every few years.

If the skies are clear over places like Albany, Saratoga Springs, or the Adirondacks, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye this weekend. Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope.

The best time to look is about an hour after sunset. Find a spot away from city lights, tall buildings, and bare winter trees. Head outside, let your eyes adjust, and look toward the western horizon. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn will sit lower in the sky, while Jupiter will shine higher above them.

Not sure what you are seeing. A simple trick is to watch for twinkling. Stars tend to flicker, while planets usually glow steadily.

The parade will linger for several nights before Mercury gradually slips below the horizon. Even after that, at least one bright planet is visible in our night sky most evenings.