A Six-Planet Parade is Coming to West Michigan Skies
A rare alignment of six planets will be visible just after sunset in mid-June — no telescope required for most.
A rare alignment of Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mars will be visible from Grand Rapids around mid-June. Best viewing is June 17-18 just after sunset in the western sky. Clear skies and a dark viewing spot help, but the brightest planets can be seen from the city.
West Michigan is about to get a free sky show. From roughly June 17 to 18, six planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mars — will line up in the western sky just after sunset. You won’t need an observatory membership to catch it, just a clear view of the horizon and a little patience.
“The key is looking west as soon as the sun slips below the horizon,” says WOOD TV 8 meteorologist Ellen Bacca. “The brighter planets like Jupiter and Mercury will stand out quickly. For Uranus and Neptune, you’ll want binoculars or a small telescope.” Cloud cover is the wild card; a single layer of clouds can hide the whole parade. But on a clear evening, even folks in the city should be able to spot the brighter worlds without gear.
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If you can, drive a few minutes away from Grand Rapids’ light dome. The darker the sky, the more you’ll see. No tickets, no reservations — just step outside and look west.
