How to see 5 planets lined up in the sky on Saturday morning

There’s another chance to see five planets lined up in the sky, weather permitting, on Saturday. (Petar Petrov, Associated Press)

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NEW YORK — Get up early this weekend for a celestial sight: Five planets will line up in the sky before sunrise on Saturday.

Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus and Mercury will appear together, weather permitting. Here’s how to spot the planet parade.

When and where can I see them?

For the best views, find a spot with little light pollution and a clear view of the horizon.

Mercury will be the last to appear, about an hour before sunrise. If you go outside at that time, you will be able to see the five planets stretching across the sky, from Mercury low on the horizon to Saturn higher up in the sky, until the sun rises.

Do I need binoculars or a telescope?

Some planets will be easier to spot than others.

Jupiter and Saturn will be quite bright and easy to see. Mercury will be slightly dimmer, although it may still be visible to the naked eye. To get a view of Neptune and Uranus, you’ll probably need to use a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

How common is this?

There was another alignment of five planets in March, with a slightly different composition. An alignment of three planets will occur in July. This happens when the orbits of the planets align on one side of the sun from Earth’s perspective.

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