(WRIC/ABC/CNN) — Get ready to get a glimpse of our neighbors in the solar system.
Five bright planets — Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter — will be visible to the naked eye just before sunrise beginning January 20 through February 20.
This is the first time in 11 years that all five of the so-called naked-eye planets have appeared together in the pre-dawn sky, according to Sky and Telescope.
The group of planets got the name “naked-eye planets” because you can easily see them with your own eyes — no need for binoculars or a telescope. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be easy to spot. Here are some tips to help you find what you’re looking for:
First, figure out where the sunrise is for your area. The U.S. Naval Observatory has an easy tool. You can also download an astronomy app to help you get your bearings. Get used to using the app inside before heading out in the cold.
You can also use the charts in many of the popular astronomy websites:
Bundle up! You’ll probably need to be outside 15 to 20 minutes to be able to find the planets and enjoy the sight.
The best viewing is expected to be in the early morning hours with a clear sky. The easiest way to find the arc is to locate Venus on the southeastern horizon, Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor. It’s the brightest planet in Earth’s dark skies — with only the moon shining brighter, according to NASA.
Next, search for Jupiter. It’s the second brightest, but it’s far away from Venus in the southwestern sky. If you use some good, image-stabilizing binoculars, you might even be able to spot some of Jupiter’s moons.
Once you’ve spotted Venus and Jupiter, the others will be easier to pick out.
Mars will appear as a reddish dot. It’s not as bright as Venus and Jupiter, but it should still be easy to see.
After you find Mars, hunt for Saturn. It’s between Mars and Venus.
The last (and the hardest) is Mercury. Because it’s closest to our sun, it often gets lost in the glare of sunrise or sunset.
You might be able to spot it by January 22 — if you don’t have a lot of buildings, trees or mountains blocking your view. Mercury will look like a small bright dot between Venus and the horizon.
Don’t be fooled by the planets’ order from the sun. This time around, the planets will appear in a line, from left to right, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. If going outside in the winter chill to check out the spectacle doesn’t sound appealing, you’ll get another chance this August when EarthSky.org says the planets will put on a week-long encore performance from Aug. 13 to Aug. 19.
