A Rare Planetary Alignment Is About to Happen. Here's How You Can See It

Seeing the planets of the Solar System aligned in a neat line is one of many awe-inspiring stargazing experiences we can get, and this month you could have a chance to see it with your own eyes.

When viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, you will be able to see the planets in a perfect alignment.

The alignment starts to form around April 17 and will be most visible on the morning of April 20. To see the alignment from the US, you need to get up before sunrise on the morning of April 20.

The alignment on April 20. Stellarium

If viewing conditions are good, you should be able to make out all four planets in a row, although Jupiter could make it a bit harder.

The planets have been clustering together since late March, but Jupiter will join the party in April.

The alignment is set to become even more spectacular a few days later, with the Moon joining the party on the right.

The Moon is featured in the April 24 alignment. Stellarium

It happens only in Earth's skies when heavenly bodies align like this. The position of each planet would be completely different if viewed from a different location.

The Solar System is flat, with each planet in the same plane, so any perceived alignment is just a trick of perspective.

planetary alignments are an amazing thing to witness, and they don't happen very often, at least not with alignments involving as many planets as this.

This month's alignment is just an aperitif for an event that will take place in June this year.

All of the planets of the Solar System will join together on June 24 in an even grander planetary alignment.

Major planetary alignments like this one, visible to the human eye, are very rare, and have only occurred three times since 2005, so you don't want to miss it.

"We don't always get this opportunity, and sometimes it's one or two in the sky." said astronomy educator Michelle Nichols from Chicago's Adler Planetarium.