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

Astronomers and astronomer wannabes, rejoice! Five planets that are visible to the naked eye will be viewable at the same time in the West Virginia night sky. And, best of all, you won't need to set an alarm for the early morning hours to see it. Most of these planets will cross the sky beginning just after sunset. The nature here in West Virginia is great, but sometimes looking up is just as special. Here's what you need to know in order to see it all unfold.

The fun begins on March 25 and runs until March 30, 2023. Known as a "parade of planets," this display will feature Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars. And, in some places, Saturn might even make an appearance.

While there are just a few days to catch it, the goods news is that you won't need a telescope. Even more exciting, you won't need to set an alarm clock for the early morning hours. Most of these planets can be seen earlier in the night.

The first planets to appear are Jupiter and Mercury. They can be seen just after the sun sets. But, be sure to catch them early as they'll move beneath the horizon in just an hour or so.

Jupiter is so close to the horizon that it will only be visible until March 28. After that it won't come above the horizon line.

Next up are Venus and Uranus. Venus should be easy to spot as it's one of the brightest planets. You might need binoculars for Uranus, however.

In some places viewers will be able to see Saturn in the early morning hours. But this will only be on March 27-28, 2023.

To make sure you have a good chance to see each planet, make sure you're in a dark place far from the lights of any cities or large towns. You'll also want to make sure you have an unobstructed view of the western horizon.

Have you ever seen a display like this? Are you planning to take a look at this one? If so, we'd love to hear where you think the best place is to see it. Let us know in the comments!

And, for even more fun, plan a camp out in a dark sky park, and watch the planets from the comfort of your sleeping bag!