Five Different Planets Will Align In The Illinois Night Sky During An Incredibly Rare Display

It’s important for human beings to spend time outdoors and soak in the fresh air as much as possible, and there are plenty of ways to do it. Maybe you’re a skiing enthusiast and spend your winter on the slopes. Or perhaps you’re a little more laid back and enjoy the tranquility of leaf-peeping in the fall. But summer is the season that everyone seems to agree on as the easiest time to be outside. Between warm weather, outdoor barbecues, and bar patios, there are plenty of excuses to get outdoors and stay there. This month, you can add another reason to your list as scientists are saying that a rare “planet parade” will take place in the Illinois night sky.

If you have been wondering what planets are visible right now in Illinois, you are in for a treat.

As the sun sets on March 25 until March 30, 2023, lucky stargazers will all have the chance to see an incredibly rare occurrence. Five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus) will be visible to the naked eye.

In order to view the planets clearly, you should start your viewing experience right after the sun sets.

You can locate the planets in the sky by looking to the west just above the horizon and looking up in an arc that goes above the crescent moon.

When we say that this is an incredibly rare display, we mean it, as the last time this occurred was in 2004!

While there are plenty of great places to stargaze in Illinois, one location that many agree on is Middle Fork River Forest Preserve. It's located in Penfield, IL, about two hours south of Chicago.

If you plan on going stargazing in Illinois any time soon, check out this video from Trace Dominguez talking about five tips for getting the best stargazing experience in the Illinois night sky:

Have you had the chance to check out the "planet parade" that has been traveling the Illinois night sky since March 25? If so, tell us in the comments about some of your favorite stargazing spots in Illinois where the viewing is perfect for the naked eye.

If you need a suggestion, try hiking to the top of a water tower in Giant City State Park for amazing views of the sky above.