The summer brings tons of beauty to the landscape of the state, but the sky offers just as much beauty as the land if you know where and when to look up. We always look forward to when there are planets visible in New Hampshire. One of our favorite celestial events is quite rare, but when it does appear it's frequently referred to as the "parade of planets." Best of all, if the weather is clear it can be seen with the naked eye!
From March 25 to March 30, 2023, five planets will align in the night sky for star lovers to enjoy. This rare event is always exciting, especially since it can involve different planets each time. This "parade of planets will feature Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars.
In the past, this event lasted for as long as a month, but this time around, we'll have just a few days to enjoy it. The good news is that viewers won't necessarily need to wake up before dawn to catch the display. Much of it can be seen right after the sun sets.
Venus will be the easiest planet to spot, as it is typically the brightest light in the night sky. However, Uranus will probably require binoculars. Also keep in mind that Jupiter will be easiest to spot from the 25th to the 28th, so try to catch this event by then for the full experience.
To see the display, be sure to find a dark spot away from artificial lights. Big cities and towns should be avoided. You'll also want to find a clear, unobstructed view facing the western horizon.
Jupiter and Mercury will be visible closer to the horizon line, so be sure to look lower in the sky. This is also the reason Jupiter is only visible for a few days. It quickly drops below the horizon. After less than one hour, both planets will no longer be visible. But, keep an eye out for Venus which comes next.
Venus will appear with Uranus just above it. These are best seen when there's no light left in the sky. But, just like the first two, Venus and Uranus will also dip below the horizon after just a few hours.
While all four of these planets will dip below the horizon, Mars is quite easy to spot and will last for most of the night.
There's still one more chance to see a planet. Saturn may appear for some in the early morning hours right before sunrise on only March 27 and 28.
This is certainly an incredible celestial event to catch. To make the most of it be sure to make plans ahead of time to be in a dark place with an unobstructed western view of the horizon. This means no buildings or mountains blocking the view.
If you love the night sky as much as us, will you be out there? Let us know where you plan on getting the best view in the comments! If you prefer your beauty to come in the form of more landscape-related sites we've got a few more options for you. Here are some natural wonders unique to New Hampshire for your bucket list.
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