<p>Keep an eye to the sky this week for a chance to see a planetary hangout.</p>.<p>Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars — will line up near the moon.</p>.<p><strong>Where and when can you see them?</strong></p>.<p>The best day to catch the whole group is Tuesday. You'll want to look to the western horizon right after sunset, said NASA astronomer Bill Cooke.</p>.<p>The planets will stretch from the horizon line to around halfway up the night sky. But don't be late: Mercury and Jupiter will quickly dip below the horizon around half an hour after sunset.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/oasis/the-universe-and-its-designer-1198143.html" target="_blank">The universe and its designer</a></strong><br /><br />The five-planet spread can be seen from anywhere on Earth, as long as you have clear skies and a view of the west.</p>.<p>“That's the beauty of these planetary alignments. It doesn't take much,” Cooke said.</p>.<p><strong>Do I need binoculars?</strong></p>.<p>Maybe. Jupiter, Venus and Mars will all be pretty easy to see since they shine brightly, Cooke said.</p>.<p>Venus will be one of the brightest things in the sky, and Mars will be hanging out near the moon with a reddish glow. Mercury and Uranus could be trickier to spot, since they will be dimmer. You'll probably need to grab a pair of binoculars.</p>.<p>If you're a “planet collector”, it's a rare chance to spot Uranus, which usually isn't visible, Cooke said. Look out for its green glow just above Venus.</p>.<p><strong>Does this happen often?</strong></p>.<p>Different numbers and groups of planets line up in the sky from time to time. There was a five-planet lineup last summer and there's another one in June, with a slightly different makeup.</p>.<p>This kind of alignment happens when the planets' orbits line them up on one side of the sun from Earth's perspective, Cooke said. </p>
<p>Keep an eye to the sky this week for a chance to see a planetary hangout.</p>.<p>Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars — will line up near the moon.</p>.<p><strong>Where and when can you see them?</strong></p>.<p>The best day to catch the whole group is Tuesday. You'll want to look to the western horizon right after sunset, said NASA astronomer Bill Cooke.</p>.<p>The planets will stretch from the horizon line to around halfway up the night sky. But don't be late: Mercury and Jupiter will quickly dip below the horizon around half an hour after sunset.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/oasis/the-universe-and-its-designer-1198143.html" target="_blank">The universe and its designer</a></strong><br /><br />The five-planet spread can be seen from anywhere on Earth, as long as you have clear skies and a view of the west.</p>.<p>“That's the beauty of these planetary alignments. It doesn't take much,” Cooke said.</p>.<p><strong>Do I need binoculars?</strong></p>.<p>Maybe. Jupiter, Venus and Mars will all be pretty easy to see since they shine brightly, Cooke said.</p>.<p>Venus will be one of the brightest things in the sky, and Mars will be hanging out near the moon with a reddish glow. Mercury and Uranus could be trickier to spot, since they will be dimmer. You'll probably need to grab a pair of binoculars.</p>.<p>If you're a “planet collector”, it's a rare chance to spot Uranus, which usually isn't visible, Cooke said. Look out for its green glow just above Venus.</p>.<p><strong>Does this happen often?</strong></p>.<p>Different numbers and groups of planets line up in the sky from time to time. There was a five-planet lineup last summer and there's another one in June, with a slightly different makeup.</p>.<p>This kind of alignment happens when the planets' orbits line them up on one side of the sun from Earth's perspective, Cooke said. </p>