In an unusual celestial show, five planets all at once and visible to the naked eye have begun a nightly parade over the Pacific Northwest.
For the first time since 2005, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are aligned across the sky and the viewing is good in this part of the country, according to Washington State University astronomer Guy Worthey. The planetary performance will run until Feb. 20; however, it will be most clearly seen during the next two weeks – weather permitting, he said.
“Starting with Jupiter, each planet will appear one at a time until they’re all lined up diagonally across the sky,” he explained.