There are quite a few reasons every year to get outside after the sun sets and appreciate the night sky. In Florida, as long as you know the right time to look and the right place to be, you’ll be in luck with a real celestial showcasing. Dubbed a "parade of planets," we're excited about the fact that five different planets in the Florida night sky will be visible with just the naked eye. And, best of all there's no early rising necessary!
It doesn’t just happen every day where you can look up in the night sky in Florida to catch all five orbital planets aligned and in full view.
If this is something you can't wait to see, get ready! From March 25 to March 30, 2023, five planets will be aligned from just after sunset to just before sunrise. While this is a rare event, it has happened in the past. This time, however, the display only lasts a few days, so be prepared! From start to finish, viewers have the chance to see Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars.
Typically the brightest planet in the sky, Venus should be fairly easy to find. But, Uranus might require binoculars. Also worth noting is that Jupiter will be easiest to spot from the 25th to the 28th. After this, the planet drops below the horizon. It's best to try catching this event by then for the full experience.
The fun starts with Jupiter and Mercury, both of which will be visible near the horizon line. To see them be sure to look lower in the sky. But, be sure to time your viewing for just after sunset as these planets will only be visible for less than one hour. Next, keep an eye out for Venus.
Right above Venus will be Uranus. You'll want to wait a bit before trying to spot these next two planets as conditions are easiest when there's no light left in the sky. But, similar to the first two, Venus and Uranus will move under the horizon in just a few hours.
Once the first four planets are beneath the horizon, it's time for Mars. This one should be bright and easy to see for most of the night.
After Mars, there's still one more planet that might appear. For some, Saturn will appear just before sunrise on March 27th and 28th.
To ensure you have the best chance to see this exciting celestial event, be sure to find a dark spot away from heavily lighted cities and towns. You'll also want to find an unobstructed view of the western horizon.
So, what do you think about this celestial event in Florida? Will you participate and grab a front-row seat to the show? Let us know in the comments section! Or if you have the perfect place to catch it all, make sure to shout that out, too.
The night sky is certainly great, but if you're more of a daytime person, there are lots of ways to enjoy nature. Check out this trail leading to a little-known overlook in Florida.
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