How to Catch the Rare and Stunning ‘Planet Parade’ in Australia

Australians are in for a cosmic treat as the night sky puts on a breathtaking show—a "planet parade"!

For the next few weeks, you’ll be able to spot seven planets from our solar system aligning in the sky, creating a rare and spectacular sight.

According to Dr. Rebecca Allen from Swinburne’s Space Technology and Industry Institute, four planets—Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn—have already been visible to the naked eye since January.

But that’s not all.

“With a good telescope, you could also spot Neptune and Uranus, making this an incredible time for stargazing,”

And it’s not just Aussies who get to enjoy this cosmic lineup—most of the world will be able to witness the six-planet parade until early March.

“This type of alignment happens every year, but having six or seven planets visible at the same time is much rarer,” Dr. Allen explained.

Why? Because each planet moves at a different speed around the Sun. But right now, they’ve all ended up in just the right positions to appear in the sky together.

“This is a great opportunity to see them all at once,” she said. “Normally, you’d have to wait hours for one to rise while another sets, but this time, they’re all above the horizon together.”

And unlike past alignments, this one has stretched across three months, thanks to the planets sitting in ideal positions.

“This year, we’re getting an extended summer parade of planets, visible throughout the season,” Dr. Allen said.

How Can I See the Planet Parade?

If you want the best view of this celestial show, here’s what to do:

• Find a dark spot – Avoid city lights and head somewhere open, like a hill or a park.

• Look up just after sunset – That’s when the planets will be most visible.

• Start from the west – Spot Venus and Saturn first; they’ll appear as a bright pair.

• Look for Jupiter – It’ll be above the Orion constellation, in Taurus.

• Find Mars – It’ll be further east, in Gemini.

• Keep an eye out in March – Mercury will join in, making the lineup even more complete!

And if you need help identifying the planets, try using stargazing apps like StarWalk or Stellarium.

What Exactly Is a Planet Parade?

A planet parade (or planetary alignment) happens when four or more planets appear to line up in the night sky.

NASA calls it a “parade of planets,” but that doesn’t mean they’re actually perfectly lined up in space. Instead, they just look that way from Earth because they’re all on the same side of the Sun.

“The planets aren’t physically closer to each other,” Dr. Allen explained, “but from our point of view, they appear that way because their locations are projected onto our night sky.”

All planets travel along the same general path as the Sun, called the ecliptic—which is why they seem to line up from our perspective.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to see multiple planets in one night, now’s your chance! Grab a telescope (or just your eyes), head outside, and enjoy the planet parade before it disappears.