For much of this month, early risers will be rewarded with one of the year’s most impressive astronomical displays. Six planets will stretch across the pre-dawn sky in a rare formation. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will be positioned along the ecliptic, forming a graceful curve from the eastern horizon toward the south. This lineup can be seen from most of the world and will not appear again in this way until February 2026.
Four of the planets, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, are bright enough to see without equipment. Uranus and Neptune are much fainter and will require binoculars or a telescope. Knowing exactly when and where to look will greatly improve your chances of spotting all six.
When the Alignment Happens
The formation begins around August 10 and remains visible until the end of the month. The best viewing conditions are expected between August 18 and 23. This period brings the New Moon and Mercury’s greatest western elongation, creating darker skies and keeping Mercury visible for longer before sunrise.
What You Will See
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Naked Eye: Mercury close to the horizon, Venus shining bright white, Jupiter with a yellow-white glow, and Saturn with a steady golden light
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Binoculars or Telescope: Uranus with a bluish-green hue and Neptune with a blue tint. Both are faint but follow the same arc as the brighter planets
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Special Dates: August 11 and 12 bring a close pairing of Venus and Jupiter, separated by less than one degree. On August 19 and 20, a thin crescent Moon will join the lineup
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Best Times to View
The ideal viewing time is one hour before your local sunrise. Here are examples for the peak period around August 18:
United States
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New York: Sunrise at 6:10 AM, view at 5:10 AM EDT
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Chicago: Sunrise at 6:15 AM, view at 5:15 AM CDT
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Denver: Sunrise at 6:25 AM, view at 5:25 AM MDT
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Los Angeles: Sunrise at 6:22 AM, view at 5:22 AM PDT
Global Examples
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London: View at 4:10 AM BST
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Sydney: View at 5:40 AM AEST
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Mumbai: View at 5:15 AM IST
Where to Look
In the United States and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, face east to find Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter low near the horizon. Follow the arc upward and toward the south to spot Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Uranus will be high toward the south-east, while Neptune will be lower toward the south-west.
In the Southern Hemisphere, look north-east to north. The alignment will sit slightly lower overall, but the bright planets will still stand out near the horizon.
Altitude Estimates for Mercury (one hour before sunrise on August 18)
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New York: about 7 degrees above the horizon
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Los Angeles: about 9 degrees
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Chicago: about 8 degrees
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Miami: about 9 degrees
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Dallas: about 8 degrees
Viewing Tips
Choose a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon.
Check the weather to ensure clear skies.
Avoid areas with light pollution for the best chance to see Uranus and Neptune.
Allow your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
Binoculars will help locate the faint outer planets and can enhance views of Saturn’s rings.
Looking Ahead
Mercury will disappear into the Sun’s glare toward the end of August. The remaining planets will stay visible into September, but the full six-planet lineup will not occur again until February 2026.
