5 Planets Will Align in the Night Sky This Month—Don't Miss the Mesmerizing Planetary Parade

From the glowing moon to an endless display of shining stars, the night sky is typically an impressive sight. But in a few days, the view is about to get even more mesmerizing, since five planets are set to form a planetary parade. From March 25 to March 30, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars will align in the night sky—an event that's expected to be visible to the naked eye.

Coined planetary alignment, this astronomical term is used to describe the celestial event when several planets gather closely on one side of the sun at the same time. March 28 will be the best day to observe it, but the alignment will be visible several days before and after that date, according to Star Walk.

During the planetary parade, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars will gather within a small 50-degree sky sector. Near the horizon soon after sunset, Jupiter and Mercury will come into view, located in the constellation Pisces. Higher up in the sky, stargazers will find Venus shining brightly in the constellation Aries. Uranus will be located about 2 degrees from Venus, with Mars joining the alignment higher in the sky, near the first quarter moon.

While Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are predicted to be visible to the naked eye, you may need binoculars or a telescope to spot Mercury and Uranus, CBS News reports. For optimal viewing, choose a location far from city lights that offers a full view of the western horizon.

If you don't catch this planetary alignment, there will be other chances to view the celestial event this year. Star Walk reports that on April 11, a small evening alignment of Mercury, Venus, and Mars will occur within a 35-degree sky section, and on April 24, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, and Mars will align within a 40-degree sky sector.