Since Venus and Mercury will be battling the glare of the setting sun, the best views of these two innermost worlds in the solar system will be had through binoculars. Venus will be only about five degrees above the local horizon, equal to the width of your clenched fist held at arm’s length. The entire planetary lineup will stretch about 27 degrees across the sky, roughly as wide as the space between your thumb and little finger when stretched apart and held at arm’s length.

As an added challenge, see if you can spot Regulus, the lead star in the constellation Leo, the lion, crashing the planet party. Look for Regulus halfway along an imaginary line between Venus and Mercury. The