Five planets will line up in the skies above WA state. Here’s how to view the rare event

Excerpt from the Tacoma News-Tribune via Yahoo!:

Look up in the sky above Washington state…, and you might see something that hasn’t been around in almost a year.

On Tuesday, a large planetary alignment involving five planets will streak across our sky. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will appear to be in a near-straight line, according to Star Walk Space.

The last time multiple planets lined up in a similar pattern was in early June 2022, when Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus aligned across the sky.

Although Tuesday evening is the best time to see the alignment, stargazers can witness the event several days before and after Tuesday. Here’s what to know about the rare solar occurrence.

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How to spot the alignment

Most of the alignment over the next few days can be viewed with the naked eye, but telescopes or a pair of binoculars would be helpful.

Venus, Mars and Jupiter can all be viewed easily with the naked eye, according to The Farmers’ Almanac. Mercury can also be seen with the naked eye, but due to its proximity to the sun, it can be seen only right after sunset or before dawn, meaning those would be the best moments to see the entire alignment.

Uranus is so far away — 1.9 billion miles — that unless you’re in an area protected from light pollution like Washington’s many national and state parks, you’ll need a magnification device.