5 Planets Will Align Over Michigan: Forecast, How To Watch

MICHIGAN — Five planets will line up over Michigan skies Thursday night into Friday morning, in a rare alignment that won't be seen again for decades.

The planetary alignment will include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, which are the five brightest planets in a sky.

Fortunately, most Michiganders will have an excellent shot to see all the planets, as meteorologists expect most Michigan skies to remain clear Thursday night, especially in the metro Detroit area.

Northern portions of the state, particularly around the Traverse City area and some spots in the Upper Peninsula could see rain, which could hinder their opportunity to see the rare alignment.

The procession of planets starts when Saturn starts rising at 12:04 a.m., followed by Jupiter at 1:41 a.m., Mars at 2:18 a.m., Venus at 4:05 a.m. and Mercury at 4:43 a.m. All the planets will be visible just above the eastern horizon during an hour or so before sunrise through the end of the month, according to AccuWeather.

The best date to mark is before 5 a.m. local time on June 24, when a crescent moon joins the planetary parade.

Best of all, the planetary alignment is visible without a telescope, though AccuWeather notes that Mercury may be hard to spot because it’s the dimmest of the planets and will be the lowest in the sky.

For the best chances to see all five planets, try to find a fairly flat open space without trees, buildings and mountains to get in the way.

The last time the five planets lined up was in 2004, and it won’t happen again until 2040, according to AccuWeather.

Related

• Summer Solstice Arrives Tuesday, Longest Day Of The Year
• Shimmering Blue Clouds Electrify Summer Skies
• 2022 Guide To Meteor Showers And Other Celestial Events
• Why Aurora Borealis Displays Are More Likely Right Now
• Aurora Borealis Hunting: What's A Kp Index?