Don’t miss this week’s 5-planet alignment. When to catch a glimpse of it in central PA
State College residents looking for a weeknight stargazing activity can check out Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Uranus line up in the night sky soon.
The planetary alignment should be visible in central Pennsylvania for a few days, but one evening will offer the best views, according to Star Walk. The formation will be “especially rare,” People Magazine reports, because it includes Uranus, which is usually difficult to see.
The last planetary lineup took place in June, with Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. That particular alignment may not occur again until 2040.
Here’s when to see the five planets align in the night sky this week.
When’s the best time to see the lineup in State College?
For the best glimpse at this event, the Associated Press reports skygazers should look to the western horizon right after sunset Tuesday. The sun will set at approximately 7:31 p.m. in State College Tuesday.
“Your best option is looking out over a water horizon that is perfectly flat and wide open with nothing to block your view. Another option is a large field with no trees or buildings,” the Farmers’ Almanac says.
It’s ideal to find an area without light pollution, and NASA advises stargazers to head at least 20 to 30 miles from city limits. You will probably need a pair of binoculars to spot Mercury and Uranus, according to AP, but Venus, Jupiter and Mars should be visible to the naked eye.
State College residents may see a cold, cloudy night Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS State College office forecasts a 20% chance of precipitation with a low around 28 degrees.
The Central Pennsylvania Observers will hold a Skywatch event at 8 p.m. April 7 at Bernel Road Park.
The CPO will host a Skywatch for the public at Bernel Road Park, 4/7/23, 8 PM. Members will provide telescopes for viewing celestial objects such as planets and the Moon. Members of the Penn State Department of Anthropology will present "Stories Under the Sky."
— Central PA Observers (@CPO_club_org) March 17, 2023
If you miss March’s planetary alignment, Star Walk reports you can see Mercury, Uranus, Venus and Mars align the evening of April 11.
Full moons in 2023
After March’s planetary alignment, be sure to check out the full moon in early April, as well as supermoons later on in the year.
Here’s the rest of this year’s full moon calendar, with information from Space.com:
April 6: Pink moon
May 5: Flower moon
June 3: Strawberry moon
July 3: Buck supermoon
Aug. 1: Sturgeon supermoon
Aug. 30: Blue supermoon (appears biggest and brightest of the year)
Sept. 29: Harvest supermoon
Oct. 28: Hunter’s moon
Nov. 27: Beaver moon
Dec. 26: Cold moon
Full moons have multiple names, and many come from Indigenous cultures. The Farmers’ Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
