How to see 3 planets line up in a dramatic display in the April sky
For several days this month, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury appear just degrees apart before sunrise—close enough to watch their changing geometry night by night.
The eastern sky will get exceptionally busy this month as Saturn, Mars, and Mercury move in and out of tight formations just before sunrise.
Across several mornings, the trio will shift between a diagonal line and a compact triangle, joined briefly by a passing crescent moon. Through binoculars, the planets will appear close enough to share the same field of view—a rare, easy-to-follow alignment. With a telescope, a fourth world—Neptune—comes into view above them.
Here’s what to know about April’s shapeshifting morning planet parade, including the best times to see it and how to snag the best view.
When to see April’s planet parade
April’s planet parade isn’t a one-morning show. You can enjoy it for much of the month, starting around April 12, when the sky dots appear within about six degrees of each other above the east horizon, depending on your viewing coordinates. For scale, that’s about the distance between your index to ring finger with your hand at arm’s length.
(Here are seven other night sky events to see in April.)
Under clear skies, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. Neptune requires a telescope. Look about 30 minutes before sunrise—though exact timing will vary by location—and stop using optical aids once the sun begins to rise.
The scene gets exceptionally dramatic from April 16 to 21, when the planets appear within around two to three degrees of each other. That’s about two to three pinky widths with your hand at arm’s length.
This is when the planet parade stars shapeshift. Each morning, the trio will move through interesting formations. Here’s what to expect when:
A planet pyramid:
On the mornings of April 16 to 19, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury will appear in an easily distinguishable triangle just above the east horizon. Neptune will be higher in the sky and farther from view.
Planetary line-up:
Starting on April 20, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury will shapeshift into a diagonal line. At this point, they’ll be close enough to appear together in a pair of standard binoculars.
A planet triangle again:
Then from April 21 to 23, the planets will transition back into a perfect triangle, where they’ll continue to drift apart as the month wears on.
Where to see the spring planet parade
This planet parade will appear just above the eastern horizon for around 30 minutes before sunrise. That means you need a clear view eastward with little to no obstructions. For that, consider a place like the Keweenaw Peninsula, which offers around 100 miles of views out east across Lake Superior.
(Here are 10 weird things you (probably) didn't know about the Milky Way.)
Weather-permitting, the Atlantic Coast provides another stellar view out to the east, as does the Texas Gulf Coast. A vast and flat landscape, such as Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado, would work, too.
What to watch for while you’re out there
April’s planet parade may be the headline event, but it’s not the only reason to set an early alarm. This time of year, the Milky Way core is increasingly visible in the pre-dawn hours, so make a night out of galactic core chasing and planet watching.
The Milky Way’s bright and dynamic galactic center becomes visible around 1 a.m. in April, although this varies based on your viewing location. The view improves as the luminous structure climbs higher in the sky. Around 3 to 4 a.m., the core will be vertical above the south horizon—a great time to see and photograph it.
(A practical guide to stargazing.)
It disappears from view around 90 minutes before sunrise, so you’ll have an hour of optimal Milky Way watching before spring’s dramatic planet parade begins. Choose a stargazing spot with limited light pollution, such as a dark-sky reserve, to see the Milky Way at its brightest. If you’re solely watching the planet parade, though, you can enjoy it even in cities and suburbs.
