The Stargazers in the Backyard are taking part in a snack this week.

Most nights you can find one or two planets. This month, you can see five planets with your naked eye. Next Friday will be the grand finale, the “Grand Parade of the Planets.” If the conditions are correct, you You can see seven planets lined up: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars.

According to Star Walk, the start tracking app, the planet parade allows all seven planets to be grouped on one side of the sun, making them appear “side in line” for a short time.

“At this point, there are times when the way things line up in the solar system is lined up on every bright planet,” he told Thomas Fleming, director of undergraduate research in astronomy at the University of Arizona. Immaricopa. “Usually you have to wake up at 3am to see the planet.”

How to watch the planet parade

Fleming can now see most planets lined up. Seeing the full effect requires a bit of luck.

The planet is just above the horizon as the sun sets. To see the planet with the naked eye, they must be at least 10 degrees on the horizon and must be away from mountains and buildings.

Even if you find the spot, the Earth’s atmosphere near the ground will darken the heavenly object as it rises or sets. Bright planets can be hard to see bright planets when they are too low, as they are scattered with light when they are too low, as they are scattered with light.

You need a real dark sky to get the best chance to see this parade. From the nearest Maricopa truth Dark Sky is headed towards Girabend along Route 238 of the state.

The Arizona Astronomical Association is holding the Viewing Party on February 28th at Tonopa High School, 38201 W. Indian School Road. They will install telescopes for public viewing.

The next “Great Parade of Planets” will not take place until 2035.