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

An evening gazing at the Missouri night sky offers so much promise. Maybe we’ll catch a shooting star, or perhaps we’ll witness a rare blood moon. Mark your calendar because the nighttime sky over Missouri is set to put on a spectacular show at the end of March when the five naked-eye planets will appear aglow in a row. It’s a sensational and rare event that you don’t want to miss.

For the first time in nearly two decades, since 2004 to be precise, the five so-called naked-eye planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus – will align at the end of March.

You can witness this rare celestial event without using binoculars or a telescope, which makes it a can’t-miss for stargazers all over the state. If you want to get a better view, however, you might want to bring out the binoculars or use a telescope, if you have one.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the skies remain clear, as this is a limited-time event only happening from March 25 until March 30, 2023.

To up the rarity factor a notch, the best chance of seeing all five planets in one night is before March 30, as Jupiter might drop below the horizon before the sun sets after that date.

Once the sun sets, keep an eye out for Mercury and Jupiter right above the western horizon.

Each of the naked-eye planets align because they sit on the same “row” of the solar system. This is called the ecliptic.

The aligned planets appear a whole lot closer together than they actually are – there are millions of miles between each of the planets on the ecliptic.

If you want to catch this rare event, make sure you're outdoors in a spot that is free of light pollution to make viewing easier.

To give you an idea of what you might be looking at in the Missouri night sky, take a look at this quick video showing two planets lit up bright against a sea of black:

If you have wondered what planets are visible tonight in Missouri, now you know what to keep an eye out for. Have you had a chance to view this rare celestial event? Where is your favorite place to view the Missouri night sky? Let us know in the comments!

For a one-of-a-kind adventure and some of the best stargazing in the state, you might also want to plan a stay at River of Life Farm in Missouri.