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

NEW YORK — Peak viewing for a rare alignment of five planets is approaching soon. The alignment won't be seen again for decades, and it is coming to a peak after the summer solstice when a crescent moon joins the parade.

Cloudy skies could make viewing the event difficult in New York between 2 and 8 a.m. Friday, but Friday night should be mostly clear, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday night is also forecast to be mostly clear.

The procession of planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, in that order — will be visible just above the eastern horizon during an hour or so before sunrise through the end of the month, 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.

Related:

• Summer Solstice Arrives Tuesday, Longest Day Of The Year
• Shimmering Blue Clouds Electrify Summer Skies
• 2022 Guide To Meteor Showers And Other Celestial Events
• Why Aurora Borealis Displays Are More Likely Right Now
• Aurora Borealis Hunting: What's A Kp Index?

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.