What planets are you able to see proper now? Will planets align Aug 19, Aug 20?

Skywatchers who noticed the Jupiter-Venus conjunction on Aug. 12 are in for a stunning show within the evening sky by way of the tip of August, with a “planet parade” constructing within the japanese sky, with a number of planets on show.

A planetary alignment, or “planet parade,” happens when a number of planets seem to align carefully, forming what seems to be a “line” within the sky. With the brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, nonetheless shut, Mercury and Saturn will be a part of the celebration, as will a waning crescent moon round Aug. 18, in response to the Farmers’ Almanac.

While some planets might be robust to identify with out some endurance and a pair of binoculars, it’s going to nonetheless be price a glance. Here’s your information on what to anticipate in August 2025.

Were planets aligned August 13?

Yes, a number of planets have lined up within the sky after sundown and earlier than dawn this week, together with Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Venus and Jupiter had their closest meetup (conjunction) on Aug. 12, however are nonetheless very shut within the pre-dawn skies by way of the tip of the month.

Is Venus and Jupiter seen tonight?

Yes. Jupiter and Venus, thought-about the brightest planets, are shining vibrant within the east earlier than dawn, NASA says.

They had their closest meetup pre-dawn this morning, Aug. 12, with simply 1-degree of separation, however they’ll nonetheless rendezvous within the sky all month lengthy. On Aug. 12, they had been shut sufficient that you would cowl each planets together with your little finger at arm’s size, per Starwalk. By Friday, Aug. 15, they will nonetheless be simply 3 levels aside as they regularly separate by way of the tip of the month, in response to Space.com.

How to search out Jupiter and Venus

To spot Venus and Jupiter, NASA says Jupiter seems within the east every morning, along with Venus, about 20 to 30 levels above the horizon.

What planets are seen proper now?

Several planets are seen both earlier than dawn or after sundown proper now, Aug. 15, 2025, and thru the tip of August. Most planets might be seen with the bare eye, whereas others might be troublesome to identify with out no less than a pair of binoculars.

• Jupiter: Appears within the east every morning, along with Venus, though the latter will not be as vibrant.
• Venus: Shines brightly within the east barely to proper of Jupiter, about 20 to 30 levels above the horizon.
• Mercury: Pops up above the horizon through the second half of August. It’s low; Mercury seems under 10 levels altitude.
• Mars: The lone planet within the early night sky, seen low within the west for about an hour after the sky begins to darken.
• Saturn: The ringed planet, which shines a gradual, yellowish glow, will rise round 10 p.m., nevertheless it’ll present up a bit earlier every night as August goes on. Look to the east after darkish with the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda.
• Uranus: Further to the suitable and highest within the sky in Taurus, however you will want no less than a pair of binoculars to view it.
• Neptune: Further to the suitable of Uranus is Neptune in Pisces, though that is one other hard-to-spot planet with out binoculars.

What planets do you want binoculars or a telescope to see?

You will want a pair of binoculars or a telescope, plus a gradual hand and endurance, to identify Uranus and Neptune.

Jupiter and Venus, thought-about the brightest planets, can been seen with the bare eye, in addition to Saturn and Mercury, though Mercury briefly emerges very low within the sky, making it a really robust sighting.

What is a planet parade?

A planetary parade refers to how planets type a “straight line” and look as if they’re marching throughout the evening sky. It’s not a technical astronomy time period, in response to NASA, though the space agency has been known to make use of the phrase.

While planets can not really totally line up within the 3D photo voltaic system, it should seem from human perspective as an alignment. NASA usually makes use of the time period casually when referring to no less than 4 planets that may be appear concurrently with the bare eye, which happens each few years.

When is the following planet parade 2025?

In the wake of the Venus-Jupiter conjunction, the following planetary alignment in 2025 will peak later in August 2025, round Aug. 18-20.

NASA reports that four planets, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Saturn, might be seen without delay earlier than dawn, as does TimeandDate and the Farmers’ Almanac. Uranus and Neptune may even be within the sky, however might be troublesome to identify.

Is there a planet alignment Aug. 18, 19 or 20?

A “picture perfect parade” of planets and the moon will happen the morning of Aug. 18, 2025, in response to the Farmers’ Almanac. This will permit skywatchers to see Jupiter and Venus to the east, Saturn to the south and Mercury, which is able to draw greater. These planets will type an “arc” with the waning crescent moon, the publication stated.

Face east about 45 minutes earlier than dawn and see Jupiter and Venus, nonetheless slowly drifting aside after their Aug. 12 conjunction, joined by Mercury, and better, the crescent moon. Mercury is hard to identify since it’s lowest within the sky, nevertheless it’ll be visibile simply above the japanese horizon about 30 to 45 minutes earlier than dawn.

You will nonetheless have the ability to see the slim crescent moon with Jupiter and Venus on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20, NASA stated.

How can I get the very best view of the planets?

To view the planets, it is best to avoid metropolis lights and head to an open space or hill, and ensure to convey both binoculars or a telescope.

Astronomers recommend a telescope with no less than an 8-inch aperture at 50 instances magnification to see Uranus and its rings, and 150 instances magnification to see Neptune. Saturn and its wonderful rings might be noticed at 25 instances magnification, astronomers say.

Is a planet alignment uncommon?

On any given evening, climate allowing, you may spot no less than one vibrant planet within the sky, and lineups of 4 or 5 planets, seen by the bare eye, usually happen each few years, in response to a Feb. 5 article by NASA’s Preston Dyches, written forward of the final planet parade in February.

While Jupiter and Saturn are steadily noticed at evening, the addition of Venus and Mercury make planetary alignments “particularly noteworthy,” Dyches stated. That is as a result of each Venus and Mercury orbit nearer to the solar than Earth, that means they orbit a lot faster than different planets, in response to NASA.

When is the following planet alignment 2025-2026?

The subsequent planetary alignment will happen on Feb. 28, 2026, which is able to characteristic six planets: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn, in response to Starwalk.

When will 4, 5, 6 or 7 planets align?

Spotting just a few planets within the sky on any given evening is not uncommon, however lineups of no less than 4 planets solely happen each few years. Here is when the following time 4, 5, six or seven (full) planet lineups will happen by way of 2034, in response to NASA and Starwalk:

• Late February 2026: Six planets seen after sundown
• Mid-April 2026: Four planets visibile earlier than dawn
• Mid-August 2026: Six planets seen earlier than dawn
• Mid-November 2026: Four planets seen earlier than dawn
• Early July 2027: Five planets visibile earlier than dawn
• Late October 2028: Five planets seen without delay earlier than dawn
• *Early February 2034: Full seven planets seen
• Late February 2034: Five planets seen after sundown

*Note: On Aug. 10, 2025, Starwalk reported a full seven-planet alignment will happen Feb. 2, 2034, though NASA solely made point out of a five-planet alignment later that month, per an article posted earlier in 2025.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.