A special planetary parade will appear in the western sky shortly after sunset, with six planets visible at once. Seeing 3 or 4 planets together is fairly common, but a six‑planet alignment only happens a few times each decade! The brightest four, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, should be visible to the naked eye, while the more distant Uranus and Neptune will be best viewed through telescopes.

Telescopes will be set up on the lawn behind the Armitage Education Center, offering clear views of the night sky beyond the glow of city lights. Members of the Astronomy Associates of Lawrence will be there to help you spot planets, stars, and other celestial objects.

Bring a chair or blanket and settle in under the stars, and if the night air gets chilly, step inside to warm up by the fireplace with a hot drink. Whether you stay for the entire evening or stop by for a quick look, we would love to have you join us!