The last parade of planets in 2025: when will it be, where and at what time to observe

In August, a rare astronomical phenomenon will occur — the parade of planets, which will be the final one in 2025. In the morning sky, you can see the alignment of six planets of the Solar system at once. Moreover, most of them can be seen with the naked eye. Izvestia tells us how and where it is better to observe this astronomical miracle.

What is a parade of planets?

A parade of planets is an astronomical phenomenon in which several planets of the Solar system are visible in the sky near one conventional line, that is, towards one sector of the celestial sphere. In reality, the planets don't line up in a perfect straight line, but from Earth it looks like they've come together, forming a rare alignment.

This event occurs due to differences in the orbital velocities and positions of the planets relative to the Earth and the Sun. The planets move around the Sun in their orbits at different speeds. For example, Mercury makes a complete revolution in about 88 days, Venus in 225 days, Earth in 365 days, and Uranus in 84 years. Because of this, their position in the sky is constantly changing, and sometimes it seems that they are converging in the same direction.

Photo: Global Look Press/Matthias Balk

Astronomers identify several types of planetary parades depending on the number of planets involved.:

— mini-parade — alignment of three planets;

— small parade — four planets;

— a big parade — five or six planets;

— the great parade is seven or eight planets.

The more planets participate in the parade, the more rare and significant the event is. Large and great parades occur once every few decades or even hundreds of years, while mini or small parades can be observed more often.

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When will the last planet parade take place in 2025?

Three planet parades have already taken place in 2025:

— On January 21, in the evening, a parade of six planets could be seen in the sky — Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn;

— On February 28, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars lined up in one chain;

— On April 15, there was a morning parade of four planets — Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus.

The final and most spectacular parade of this year will take place early in the morning on Sunday, August 10.

What time is it to watch the parade of planets on August 10

On August 10, about an hour before sunrise, at about 03:50-04:00 Moscow time, six planets will line up in a row in the sky: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Most of them will be clearly visible to the naked eye, and to view the dimmer Uranus and Neptune, you will need binoculars or a telescope.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Patlis

In other regions of Russia and the world, the start time of the parade will vary depending on the local dawn. For optimal observation, choose a location with an open horizon and minimal light pollution.

At the same time, the astronomer, head of the methodological support department of the Moscow Planetarium, in an interview with TAMM, noted that the planets would be visible not one morning, but throughout August.

— Only on one day and at a certain time, a parade of planets cannot be observed, - said the astronomer.

According to her, the celestial bodies can be observed now, they are all visible on one side of the Sun.

Photo: Global Look Press/Stephan Schulz

Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus are visible through a telescope in the evening, and Venus and Jupiter are visible in the morning. Mercury will appear in the sky closer to August 19, and it will be possible to observe it in the morning low over the eastern horizon and no more than an hour.

The next significant parade of planets will happen only in February 2026, when Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter will gather again in the evening sky.

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How to distinguish planets and where to look for them

Planets in the night sky look slightly different from stars, and they can be distinguished with the naked eye if you know the key differences. Firstly, the stars, being at a great distance, seem to twinkle due to atmospheric refraction of light. The planets shine with a steady, steady light.

Photo: Global Look Press/David Becker

Secondly, planets are usually brighter than many stars. For example, Venus is the brightest, it can shine even during the day. The color also helps to distinguish the planets: Venus is white, Mercury is grayish-brown, Mars is reddish, Jupiter and Saturn are yellowish.

During the parade on August 10, 2025, the location and visibility features of the six planets can be determined by the following criteria:

— Mercury will rise last of all and will be closest to the rising Sun, low above the eastern horizon in the constellation of Cancer. This is a relatively dim planet, so it will require clear skies without interference to observe it.;

— Jupiter will be located above Mercury, it will shine brightly and be visible to the naked eye;

— Venus will appear next to Jupiter, standing out for its brightness and white light;

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Timkiv

— Uranus will be higher than all of the above, but for its confident observation you will need binoculars or a small telescope. With a very clear and dark sky, Uranus can be seen with the naked eye.;

— Neptune will be located on the western side of the visible alignment and will be visible only through powerful binoculars or a telescope due to its low brightness.;

— Saturn will be close to Neptune. Its steady yellowish light will help distinguish the planet from the stars.

To more accurately identify specific planets, you can use specialized applications and sky maps that show the position and movement of planets in a particular region.