How to see 5 planets in a straight line in the sky on Saturday morning

New York — Rise early this weekend for celestial sightings: Five planets will line up in the sky before sunrise on Saturday.

Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus and Mercury will be visible together, weather permitting. Here’s how to watch the planet parade.

When and where can I see them?

For the best views, look for a spot with less light pollution and a clear view of the horizon.

Mercury will be last visible about an hour before sunrise. If you go outside at that time, you’ll be able to see all five planets spread across the sky — from Mercury below the horizon to Saturn higher in the sky — until the sun rises.

Do I need binoculars or a telescope?

Some planets will be easier to detect than others.

Jupiter and Saturn will be quite bright and easy to see. Mercury will be slightly hazy, although it may still be visible to the naked eye. To get a view of Neptune and Uranus, you’ll probably need to break out a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

How common is this?

There was another five-planet lineup in March with a slightly different makeup. There will be an alignment of three planets in July. This happens when the orbits of the planets line them up on one side of the Sun from Earth’s perspective.

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