Skywatchers across Africa are set for a celestial spectacle in the early hours of Wednesday, August 20, 2025, when six planets will appear alongside a slender crescent Moon in the pre-dawn sky.
From about 3:00 AM local time, bright worlds including Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will rise in the east, with Mercury following closer to sunrise. For those with binoculars or a telescope, the distant gas giants Uranus and Neptune will also be visible, completing a rare six-planet alignment.
The highlight of the morning will be a delicate triangle formed by the crescent Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. This striking arrangement will sit against the backdrop of the twin stars Castor and Pollux in the Gemini constellation, with the brilliant star Procyon of Canis Minor nearby.
Astronomers say the phenomenon is not limited to one part of the world — it will be visible across both hemispheres. But Africa, with its wide horizons and often clearer skies, offers particularly good viewing conditions.
How to Watch
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Best time: Between 3:00 AM and 4:30 AM, before dawn brightens the sky.
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Where to look: Face east to northeast. A flat horizon helps in spotting Mercury, which will sit low near the horizon.
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Visibility: Venus will shine as the brightest “star,” Jupiter nearby, and Saturn higher up. Mercury may be harder to catch without a clear view, while Uranus and Neptune need optical aid.
For many in Ghana and across the continent, this will be the final chance in 2025 to see such a multi-planet gathering — a reminder of the grandeur of the night sky.
