Photographer Captures All Six Planets in Night Sky Parade

Josh Dury drove four hours through road closures to reach a radar memorial in Dorset, arriving just as the sun set Tuesday evening. What he captured next was a view most people never see: six planets stretching across the sky like pearls on a string.

The Bristol photographer used a wide lens to capture Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all in one frame during a planetary parade. These rare alignments happen when several planets appear to line up on one side of the Sun from Earth's perspective.

"It was a battle against time," Dury said, describing how he raced against the fading light. The wide lens gave him a nearly 180-degree field of view, perfect for capturing the celestial lineup as darkness fell over Worth Matravers.

When he reviewed the shot, Dury felt "positively overwhelmed." Watching the parade develop through his lens reminded him of our small but special place in the solar system.

Why This Inspires

The best part? You can see this too.

The planetary parade returns Saturday evening, visible across the UK just after sunset. Jupiter will shine brightest, easy to spot even from light-polluted cities as it sits high in the constellation Gemini.

Mercury and Venus will appear low on the western horizon, requiring a clear viewing spot. Saturn and Neptune will join them in the western sky, though Neptune needs binoculars or a telescope to see clearly.

Uranus sits higher in the constellation Taurus and won't set until midnight, giving stargazers more time to track it down with proper equipment. Local astronomy societies are hosting viewing events for anyone without their own gear.

No special knowledge required, just a clear horizon and a sense of wonder. The universe is putting on a show, and this weekend, we all have front-row seats.