Here are the FIVE planets you'll be able to see in the sky this weekend

Virgin Radio

16 Jun 2023, 14:58

Get ready to view some extraordinary sights this weekend. On Saturday morning (17 June), stargazing Brits will have the rare chance of viewing five out of eight planets in the sky, including Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.

Lining up within a 93-degree sky sector, spectators will be able to look out for the 'striking celestial space show' that doesn't need any high-tech equipment, one hour before sunrise on Saturday near the eastern horizon.

People are advised that they may need binoculars or a telescope to see the two dimmer planets, Neptune and Uranus, but Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn are set to be easy to spy.

Starwalk explains: "June 17 is the best day for observation. However, in some locations, the alignment may be visible several days before and after that date."

The site adds: "The planets do form a line, but it's not perfectly straight. All the planets orbit the Sun in almost the same plane.

"As a result, when viewing from Earth, the other planets appear to move along the ecliptic, the Sun’s yearly path across the sky." However, make sure you're 'looking at the planets and not the stars'.

"It’s not as obvious as it seems!" Starwalk explains. "It may be easy to distinguish Jupiter because it will be the brightest celestial object in the morning sky until the Sun rises. The other planets, however, are much fainter."

The site says: "One of the differences is that the planets, unlike the stars, don’t twinkle."

The next time we'll be able to set our eyes on the solar system parade will be in springtime next year, starting on 20 April 2024.

Good luck!

Got a spare £352K? You could buy a ticket on a Virgin Galactic commercial space flight.