Posted in North Dakota Nature March 19, 2023 by

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

Nature and night sky lovers of North Dakota, you’re going to want to go outside early, early tomorrow morning – just before and as the sun comes up – and look up. Right now, there’s a very special celestial event occurring over our heads (and the rest of the world, too): it’s what’s called a “planet parade,” and this year’s planet parade in North Dakota is particularly special for its rarity. Check it out, and set your calendar for March 27th/28th, when the 2023 planet parade will be at its finest.

North Dakota is beautiful during the day, but when the sun goes down, it seems to take on a special additional magic.
Ken Lund/Flickr
North Dakota is one of the least populated states in the entire country, but that comes with several benefits, one being - in this case - a nice, dark night sky overhead that's perfect for viewing events like this one.
Head to one of the many dark-sky locations in North Dakota to witness this spectacular natural event, and consider camping overnight - after all, the best time for viewing the planet parade is just before sunrise.
Uroš Novina/Flickr
So, what will you see during this magical time? Oh, nothing special - just five of the planets in our solar system all lined up in a perfect row, in order, with the moon smack-dab in the middle as a kind of celestial placeholder for Earth's position in the line.
You'll see Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars - all in the form of brilliant lights arced up with the moon.
polaristest/Flickr
Mars' bright dot has a reddish-orange hue. Venus has a greenish-white glow. And, should you bring a pair of binoculars or a good telescope, you'll even be able to see Uranus, too.
So, what makes this event so special? Don't planets line up all the time?
Kevin Gill/Flickr
Well, kind of, but getting five of them to appear to align in the sky is pretty special. You might remember the phenomenon called a "conjunction," in which two or three planets appear lined up in the sky. There was a planetary conjunction over North Dakota in 2020 that we all called the "Christmas Star" thanks to its appearance in December, but it wasn't a star (or stars) at all - it was planets.
The window of time for seeing the line-up complete with Mercury is just before dawn, as it'll be very bright and low on the horizon.
FolsomNatural/Flickr
It will, however, be rapidly drowned out by daylight as the sun comes up, so be prepared to arrive earlier. Though this phenomenon is visible through all of March, it'll reach its peak level of sheer awesomeness on March 27th and 28th, so camp out at a dark place the night of the 26th and then wake up before dawn for the full experience.
This is a rare opportunity to witness a celestial oddity; the last time this happened was decades ago, and it's not expected to happen again for about as long.
Paul Stewart/Flickr

Of course, there are lots of wonderful places to go camping in North Dakota so you can enjoy this planet parade in the best way possible. Will you go see it? Which planet is your favorite? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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The OIYS Visitor Center

North Dakota Night Sky

March 24, 2023
Tori Jane
  1. What are some of the best places to view the North Dakota night sky?

North Dakota is actually one of the best states for stargazing; it’s one of the lesser-populated states in the U.S., and as a result, a lot of it is rural – which means dark skies. Some of the best places to view the North Dakota night sky include:  

  • Beaver Lake State Park – one of many amazing North Dakota state parks perfect for any stargazer, new or experienced.
  • Fort Ransom State Park – another amazing option for stargazing, as well as for witnessing the aurora borealis 
  • Lake Sakakawea State Park – there might be a noticeable pattern here; turns out, most of our amazing state parks have dark skies! 
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Park – our gigantic and beautiful National Park is an idyllic place to lose yourself in the night.  

 

Learn more about stargazing at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.   

  1. Where else can I go stargazing in North Dakota?

Of course, the list of places perfect for stargazing in North Dakota doesn’t end with the above items. Oh, no – there are so many more! Some of our other favorite spots for stargazing in North Dakota are:  

  • Cross Ranch State Park – what else can we say? Our state parks are top-notch for dark skies.  
  • Crow Flies High Butte – pure nighttime perfection. Bring a blanket and lay under the stars.  
  • Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area – another amazing option that you cannot possibly go wrong with!  

 

Learn more about stargazing at the amazing Cross Ranch State Park!   

  1. What are some amazing natural wonders in North Dakota?

North Dakota’s wonders continue long after the sun has come back up. This state is filled head to toe with incredible natural wonders! Some of our favorite natural wonders in North Dakota are wonders like:  

  • The Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge – Located near Minot, this preserve is enormous and beautiful; definitely worthy of a day trip!  
  • Cannonball Concretions Pullout – Found in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this bizarre geological feature is sure to baffle and intrigue.  
  • The Caprock Coulee Trail – Maybe two items from Theodore Roosevelt National Park is cheating, but we can’t NOT mention this otherworldly hike.  

 

Learn more about all of these natural wonders in North Dakota!