5 Planets Parade Across The Sky Saturday: When To See It On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY — Set your alarm for an early wake-up Saturday to see a rare planetary alignment of Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus and Mercury just before sunrise — depending on the weather, of course.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for showers and possibly a thunderstorm Saturday on Long Island. There's about 25% chance of rain between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., with patchy fog expected in some areas.

Timing is everything. Mercury will be the last planet to make an appearance, about an hour before sunrise, which is at 5:21 a.m.

With Mercury down at the horizon and Saturn higher in the sky, you’ll be able to see the planets until sunrise. Jupiter and Saturn will be pretty bright and easy to spot. Mercury will be a bit dimmer, though you still may be able to see it without binoculars or a small telescope. However, you will need one of those to see the dimmest of the planets, Neptune and Uranus.

Five planets paraded across the sky in March, and there will be a three-planet lineup in July.

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If you do plan to take it in, scout out a good location ahead of time. Get as far away from city lights as you can. An unobstructed view from a perfectly flat vantage point with no obstructions is ideal. Water horizons are a good place to check out. Just make sure there aren’t a lot of trees or buildings in the way.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.