Astronomy lovers, get your binoculars, telescopes, and alarm clocks ready. A mini planet parade is in store for mid-July, just a month after the last one.
If you missed June’s spectacle, make sure you tune in to this one. Here’s what you need to know and how you can watch the next planetary alignment.
How and when to see the July 2026 planet parade
Right before sunrise on Sunday, July 12, 2026, the moon, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus will appear in the eastern sky, according to NASA.
The waning crescent moon, Mars and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. To see Uranus, you’ll need high-powered binoculars or a telescope. For the best view, make sure there are no tall buildings or high mountains around.
Before dawn on July 12 is generally when the spectacle will be most visible worldwide, but the ideal viewing time may vary depending on your exact location.
What is a planetary alignment? Next one occurs July 12 at dawn
A planetary alignment is when several planets gather closely on one side of the Sun simultaneously, according to Starwalk.
This is colloquially referred to as a “planetary parade” or a “parade of planets,” but these are not astronomy terms used to describe the event, according to NASA.
How does planetary alignment work?
All planets revolve around the sun along the same orbital plane, known as the ecliptic on Earth. As they travel along it, they eventually catch up with one another over time. Once the planetary orbits meet, it looks as though they are aligned as they pass Earth, but the line will not be perfectly straight, according to Space.com.
With each planet moving at different speeds, the alignment will only last for a brief time, depending on each planet’s distance from the sun. This is also why planetary alignments do not always feature the same number of planets.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Did July mini planetary alignment start yet? When to look up to see it
Reporting by Mariyam Muhammad, USA TODAY NETWORK / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mariyam Muhammad, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
