Look west shortly after sunset tonight for a beautiful mini planetary parade.
On June 12, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter are lining up low in the western sky, offering one of the most accessible and striking planetary alignments of 2026. All three planets are easily visible to the naked eye.
Venus will shine as the brightest jewel in the twilight, with Jupiter appearing as another prominent bright point nearby. Mercury will sit lowest near the horizon, making it the most elusive of the trio.
For the best view, head outside 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. This event is perfect for beginners, no telescope or binoculars are required. Simply find a clear view of the western horizon and enjoy the show.
Although the planets appear close together from Earth, they are actually vast distances apart in space. Jupiter is currently hundreds of millions of miles away, while Mercury and Venus orbit in completely different parts of the solar system. Their alignment is simply a line-of-sight effect caused by the planets orbiting the Sun in roughly the same plane.
The celestial show continues beyond tonight. Over the coming evenings the grouping will shift, and around June 16โ17, a delicate crescent Moon will join the lineup, creating what could be the most spectacular and photogenic moment of the entire event.