On any given night, it’s common to see one or two of our neighboring planets glimmering up above. This week, however, is special—every planet in our solar system will be visible in the night sky!
This celestial event, known as a “planet parade,” isn’t exceedingly rare, according to NASA, but it’s definitely a sight worth seeing.
So just when and where can you view the planetary parade in Chicago? Here’s everything to know!
Some planets will be more visible than others
During a planet parade, some planets appear brighter than others depending on their distance from Earth and their position near the horizon, according to NASA.
Unfortunately, both Saturn and Mercury will be too close to the horizon this week, making them difficult to spot.
However, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus will be clearly visible to the naked eye. Uranus and Neptune will also be present, though they’ll require a telescope for viewing.
How to identify each planet
There are several easy ways to spot planets in the night sky.
According to the Adler Planetarium, planets generally don’t twinkle like stars, which helps distinguish them from the millions of surrounding celestial bodies.
Planets farther from the horizon tend to appear brighter, so Mars, Jupiter, and Venus will likely stand out during this week’s planetary parade.
For identifying individual planets, color is key:
- Mars glows with a reddish hue.
- Jupiter appears light tan.
- Venus shines bright white.
Best places to stargaze in Chicago
The best spots for stargazing in Chicago are areas with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the night sky—ideally, away from buildings, trees, or other structures blocking the horizon.
For the best view of this week’s planetary parade in Chicago, we recommend heading to the lakefront, particularly near the Adler Planetarium. This area offers reduced light pollution and sweeping views of the sky over Lake Michigan.
For more stargazing tips, check out the Adler Planetarium’s official site.