Moon joins 6 planets in rare celestial parade this August
Published Aug 8, 2025 03:54 pm
Illustration courtesy of PAGASA
Get ready for an impressive lineup lighting up the skies.
The Moon will join Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in a rare planetary alignment visible in the early morning sky as early as Saturday, Aug. 9, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Among the planets, PAGASA said Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require the use of a telescope or high-powered binoculars.
The best time to view the alignment will be around 6 a.m. (Philippine time) on Aug. 20, when Mercury reaches its highest point above the horizon.
PAGASA added that the alignment will remain visible througout the month.
On Aug. 12, Venus and Jupiter will pass very close to each other, separated by less than one degree.
Although this close approach occurs in the afternoon, PAGASA said the best time to observe their pairing is at 5 a.m. in the eastern sky, where both will shine brightly in the constellation Gemini.
The waning gibbous Moon will join the show on the evening of Aug. 12, passing close to Saturn at 8:01 p.m., marking their closest apparent approach.
Later that night, at 11:18 p.m., the Moon and Saturn will reach conjunction, creating a striking sight for night sky watchers.
PAGASA said Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation on Aug. 19 at 5:48 p.m., marking its highest point in the morning sky for the month and providing one of the best chances to spot the elusive planet before sunrise.
On Aug. 21 at 6:19 p.m., Mercury will enter its half-phase, also known as dichotomy.
PAGASA said Aug. 20 promises a spectacular early morning sky as the waning crescent Moon aligns with Jupiter at 5:04 a.m., forming a close conjunction.
Around this time, the trio of the Moon, Jupiter, and Venus will create a noticeable triangle in the eastern sky.
Although the Moon and Venus will also be in conjunction later that day at 6:50 p.m., both will have already set below the horizon.
The Moon and Mercury will share the same right ascension just after midnight on Aug. 22, but they will be visible low in the eastern sky around 5 a.m. for a brief period before fading as the Sun rises.
Later in the month, PAGASA said the three-day-old Moon and Mars will be in close proximity on Aug. 26 at 9:59 p.m., followed by their conjunction early the next morning.
Although these events occur below the horizon, the best time to view the close encounter will be from 6:45 p.m. until they set in the western sky.
PAGASA said all conjunctions and close planetary approaches during this period will be visible within the field of view of a telescope and can also be observed with the naked eye or binoculars, weather permitting.