Planet Parade in the Sky: Four Planets Line Up Before Sunrise This Week

A small planet parade of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune began April 16 and continues through late April, visible low on the eastern horizon just before sunrise; the article identifies April 18–24 as the clearest period and notes Neptune requires a telescope to see.

A small planet parade began on April 16 and runs nearly to the end of the month, with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune appearing close together on the eastern horizon just before sunrise. The planets sit low above the horizon and are quickly chased by the rising sun, giving a narrow nightly window. Geza Gyuk, senior director of astronomy at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, is quoted saying Mercury is close to the sun and hard to see. The article highlights April 18–24 as the clearest period for viewing. Key details: - The article lists Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune as visible together from April 16 through nearly the end of April. - Best days for the configuration are reported as April 18–24; visibility is reduced before and after those dates because the planets are nearer the sun. - Depending on location, observers may have roughly 20–40 minutes before sunrise to see all four planets. - Neptune is not visible to the naked eye and the article notes a telescope is required to see it; binoculars are mentioned as helpful for the other planets. - Observing conditions are reported as better away from light pollution and with a low eastern horizon; higher elevations offer earlier sightings near 6 a.m., while sea-level locations may see planets just after 6 a.m. Summary: Visibility will depend on local sunrise times and how low the eastern horizon is, making the event a brief, location-sensitive opportunity. Astronomers often refer to these events as planetary alignments and note they are not very common; the article identifies April 18–24 as the prime period for viewing.