If you’ve been waiting for a chance to catch a rare celestial show, now’s the time to look up! Six planets and the Moon are currently lining up in New York skies, and it’s the last Planetary Alignment of 2025.
Now through Wednesday, August 20th, stargazers in NYC will be able to spot Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in the early morning sky, just before sunrise.
According to astronomer Andrew Fazekas, this is a fleeting opportunity—Mercury is already low on the horizon and will soon dip out of view, making this week your best, and last, chance to view six planets aligned until February 2026. Live Science writes:
Although it’s relatively rare for six planets to appear in the sky simultaneously, the beauty of the view will be vastly increased by the waning crescent moon.
Here’s everything you need to know about the August Planetary Parade:
What is a Planetary Alignment?
According to Starwalk, a Planetary Alignment, also known as a Planetary Parade, is a colloquial term that means, in the broadest sense, that several planets are present in the sky in one night. This phenomenon is technically an illusion as the planets aren’t truly aligned but just appear so from their respective orbits.
NASA adds:
While they aren’t once-in-a-lifetime events, planetary parades afford an uncommon opportunity to look up and appreciate our place in our solar system, with diverse worlds arrayed across the sky before our very eyes.
When to Watch the Planetary Parade 2025 in NYC
- Best time to view the Planetary Parade: 45 minutes before sunrise
- 8/18 sunrise: 6:09 am
- 8/19 sunrise: 6:10 am
- 8/20 sunrise: 6:11 am
- Key dates: August 18-19, when the crescent Moon joins Venus and Jupiter in a striking alignment
- Visibility: So long as the sky is cloudless, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury can be seen with the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope
What You’ll Actually See
To the naked eye, the planets will appear as bright stars in a line across the sky, with the Moon serving as a natural guide.
Stargazing Tips for New Yorkers
- Find a dark spot away from city lights with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern and southern horizon
- Arrive early — the viewing window is short before daylight washes out the sky
- Bring binoculars or a telescope for the faint outer planets
- Use stargazing apps like Sky Tonight, Stellarium, or Sky Safari to track positions
Why It’s Special
Six visible planets in one sky isn’t an everyday sight. Add the crescent Moon—creating a glowing lineup above NYC—and you’ve got one of the year’s most Instagram-worthy cosmic moments.
The next chance won’t come until February 2026, according to Starwalk, so don’t miss this final cosmic show of the year.
