Planet Parade in November 2026: See 4 Planets Before Sunrise
The planetary alignment in November 2026 brings Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter together before sunrise during November 13–22. All four planets are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. The Northern Hemisphere offers better viewing conditions, while Mercury’s low altitude makes the complete lineup difficult to observe from much of the Southern Hemisphere. Open Star Walk 2 and use the Planet Walk feature to preview the four-planet parade on the sky map.
Contents
- When to See the Planetary Alignment in November 2026
- How to Find the Four Planets in November 2026
- November 2026 Planetary Alignment: FAQ
- November 2026 Planetary Alignment: Key Takeaways
When to See the Planetary Alignment in November 2026
The lineup begins forming around November 8, but Mercury is very low at first. Different mornings offer different observing advantages:
- For easier observation of Mercury: try November 20–22, 2026. Mercury reaches its greatest elongation on November 20 (UTC), appearing about 19.6° from the Sun. Around this date, Mercury will be brighter and higher above the horizon before sunrise, making it easier to spot.
- For an early look at the parade: try November 14, 2026. At the same stage of dawn, the planets have a narrower horizontal spread on this date than on November 20 in most of the listed cities.
- For the Mars–Jupiter conjunction: choose a morning around November 15–16, 2026, when the planets appear about 1° apart. Learn more about planetary conjunctions.
Bonus: The Leonid meteor shower peaks around November 17–18, 2026. If you’re out before dawn to see the planets, you may also catch a few meteors under clear, dark skies.
Observing times on November 20, 2026
On November 20, Mercury is better placed for morning observation. Compared with November 14, it appears higher above the horizon, although the planets are more spread out horizontally in most of the listed cities.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Best time on Nov 20 (local) | Visibility end | Mercury altitude | Azimuth span | Pair defining the span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | 05:20 | 05:55 | 06:05 | 11° | 70.5° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| Mexico City, Mexico | CST (UTC−6) | 05:45 | 06:15 | 06:25 | 12° | 35.4° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | 05:35 | 06:10 | 06:20 | 11° | 72.5° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | 06:10 | 06:35 | 06:50 | 9° | 72.4° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | 05:40 | 06:15 | 06:20 | 12° | 64.7° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| Bangkok, Thailand | ICT (UTC+7) | 05:20 | 05:50 | 05:55 | 12° | 22.6° | Venus–Mars |
| Jakarta, Indonesia | WIB (UTC+7) | 04:40 | 04:55 | 05:05 | 9° | 65.8° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST (UTC+9) | 05:15 | 05:45 | 05:55 | 11° | 69.2° | Mercury–Jupiter |
- The viewing interval (from Visibility start to Visibility end) is when Mercury is at least 5° above the horizon, the other three planets are at least 10° above the horizon, and the Sun is below −6°.
- Best time is selected when the Sun is 8° below the horizon, then rounded to the nearest five minutes.
- Mercury altitude and Azimuth span are calculated for the displayed best time. Azimuth span measures the side-to-side spread of the planets along the horizon, between the two planets identified in the final column.
The viewing times depend on how bright the sky is before sunrise. Learn how the Sun’s altitude affects visibility in our guide to the different types of twilight.
Observing times on November 14, 2026
Compared with November 20, the planets have a narrower horizontal spread on November 14 in most of the listed cities, but Mercury is still relatively low. Here’s when to look for all four planets from different locations.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Best time on Nov 14 (local) | Visibility end | Mercury altitude | Azimuth span | Pair defining the span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | 05:30 | 05:50 | 06:00 | 9° | 55.1° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| Mexico City, Mexico | CST (UTC−6) | 05:55 | 06:10 | 06:20 | 9° | 11.3° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | 05:45 | 06:00 | 06:10 | 8° | 60.0° | Mercury–Mars |
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | 06:15 | 06:25 | 06:40 | 7° | 65.1° | Mercury–Mars |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | 05:50 | 06:10 | 06:20 | 9° | 44.2° | Mercury–Jupiter |
| Bangkok, Thailand | ICT (UTC+7) | 05:30 | 05:45 | 05:55 | 8° | 24.2° | Venus–Mars |
| Jakarta, Indonesia | WIB (UTC+7) | 04:50 | 04:55 | 05:05 | 6° | 59.0° | Mercury–Mars |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST (UTC+9) | 05:20 | 05:40 | 05:50 | 9° | 55.7° | Mercury–Mars |
The same visibility criteria and best-time definition apply.
Visibility from the Southern Hemisphere
The complete alignment is difficult to observe from southern mid-latitudes. In cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Cape Town, Santiago, and Buenos Aires, Mercury remains below 5° until civil twilight has begun throughout November 10–30.
This doesn’t rule out seeing Mercury later in twilight, but the brighter sky makes it harder to detect. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are more accessible targets.
Conditions improve closer to the equator. Jakarta, for example, has an observing interval for all four planets on both November 14 and 20, although Mercury still requires a clear horizon.
How to Find the Four Planets in November 2026
This is a small planetary alignment, featuring four planets bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. However, spotting the complete lineup requires clear skies and good timing before sunrise. Mercury is the main challenge because it appears low in the brightening dawn sky.
| Planet | Constellation | Magnitude | How to recognize it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jupiter | Leo | −2.1 | A bright point of light near Mars |
| Mars | Leo | 0.6 | Much fainter than Jupiter, with a reddish-orange color |
| Venus | Virgo | −4.9 | The brightest of the four planets |
| Mercury | Libra | −0.5 | Low in the dawn sky; the hardest to spot |
The constellations and approximate apparent magnitudes are given for November 20, 2026, when Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation.
For observers at northern mid-latitudes, choose a spot with a clear view of the east-southeastern horizon. Buildings, trees, hills, and haze can hide Mercury while the other planets remain clearly visible. For this event, a clear horizon matters more than escaping city lights.
Start with Jupiter and nearby Mars while the sky is still dark, then find brilliant Venus much lower in the sky. Leave Mercury for later, when it will be higher above the horizon. But don’t wait too long — the approaching sunrise will make it harder to see. Use the sky map to locate each planet.
Try 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars to help find Mercury. A telescope is optional: a 70–100 mm refractor at about 50–100× can reveal Venus’s phase and Jupiter’s large moons and main cloud belts. Never point binoculars or a telescope toward the Sun.
Mercury may be tricky to spot, but how much do you know about it? Test your knowledge with our Mercury quiz.
How to preview the planet parade with Star Walk 2
Use Star Walk 2 to see how the four planets will appear from your location and compare different observing dates.
- Open Menu > Planets.
- Tap Best nights to see planets.
- Select the November four-planet parade from the list.
- Tap Planet Walk to see when and where each planet will appear in your sky.
- To explore other dates and times, tap the date or time in Time Machine in the upper-right corner, then use the slider on the right side of the screen to adjust it.
November 2026 Planetary Alignment: FAQ
Here are answers to common questions about observing and photographing the four-planet parade.
Can I see the November 2026 planet parade after sunset?
No. This four-planet grouping is a morning event. Mercury and Venus appear before sunrise, while Mars and Jupiter rise earlier in the night.
Will the planets form a straight line?
The planets will appear roughly aligned along the ecliptic, but won’t form a perfectly straight line. They won’t be lined up in space, either: the planets occupy different positions in their orbits around the Sun. The alignment is a matter of perspective from Earth.
For a visual explanation, see our planetary alignment infographic.
Can I photograph all four planets together?
Yes, but the planets will be spread across a large portion of the sky, so you’ll need a wide-angle lens or a panorama to capture all four. Use a tripod and take several exposures: Mercury may be difficult to capture against the brightening dawn. Preview the arrangement from your location with a stargazing app before deciding how to frame the scene.
For more camera settings and practical advice, see our beginner’s guide to astrophotography.
Is a planetary alignment the same as a conjunction?
No. A planetary alignment describes several planets appearing in the same region of the sky. A conjunction occurs when two objects share the same right ascension or ecliptic longitude — coordinates used to describe their positions.
November 2026 Planetary Alignment: Key Takeaways
Look for Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter before sunrise during November 13–22, 2026. November 14 offers a narrower horizontal arrangement in most of the listed cities, while around November 20–22, Mercury stands higher and is easier to spot. For the closest Mars–Jupiter pairing, observe around November 15–16. Choose a clear morning and an unobstructed horizon. Use Star Walk 2 to preview the planets’ positions and compare different dates from your location.
