5 Planets Will Align Over Maryland: Forecast, How To Watch

MARYLAND — Check out a sight that won't be seen again for several decades when a rare alignment of five planets comes to a peak after the summer solstice as a crescent moon joins the parade in the nighttime skies over Maryland.

The weather forecast in Maryland is partly cloudy, so be sure to check the weather before you head out if you’re putting skywatching on your weekend agenda.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — in that order — will be visible for an hour or so before sunrise through the end of the month just above the eastern horizon, according to AccuWeather.

The best date to mark is before 5 a.m. local time on June 24, when a crescent moon joins the planetary parade.

Best of all, the planetary alignment is visible without a telescope, though AccuWeather notes that Mercury may be hard to spot because it’s the dimmest of the planets and will be the lowest in the sky.

For the best chances to see all five planets, try to find a fairly flat open space without trees, buildings and mountains to get in the way.

The last time the five planets lined up was in 2004, and it won’t happen again until 2040, according to AccuWeather.

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