Five planets to align in the sky this weekend. How to view the ‘planetary parade’

There’s a new parade coming to town — a “planetary parade,” that is.

And with a keen eye or some binoculars, you’ll have a chance at seeing five planets as they align in the sky.

When can I see the planets?

The planets — Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn — are expected to line up over the weekend, according to Star Walk. The astronomical app says Saturday, June 17, will be “the best day for observation,” though you may be able to see the planets on surrounding days depending on where you are.

Fair warning, though, you’ll need to get up early.

StarWalk says you should have your eyes to the sky before dawn, or about an hour before sunrise, to see the “awe-inspiring phenomenon.”

Where will I see the planets?

For your best chance at viewing all five planets, you should find a spot with “little light pollution and a clear view of the horizon,” according to the Associated Press.

Jupiter and Saturn will be the easiest ones to spot, the AP reported. Mercury won’t be as bright, but you should be able to see it with your naked eye in the right conditions.

“To get a view of Neptune and Uranus, you’ll probably need to break out a pair of binoculars or a telescope,” according to the AP.

“Keen-sighted people” might be able to see Uranus without any aid, professor Don Pollacco, an exoplanet expert at the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, told Forbes.

Are planet alignments rare?

“Planetary alignments have always occurred—they are times when the planets in the solar system are all roughly positioned in the same direction when viewed from Earth,” Pollacco told Forbes. “Given that we understand the orbits of the planets we can predict when these alignments will occur.”

In March, five planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars — lined up near the moon, the AP reported at the time.

A three-planet alignment is expected to happen in July, according to Star Walk.