"It's like a game of billiards around the solar system, flying by a couple of planets at just the right angle and timing to build up the energy we need to get to Jupiter and Europa."

In late January this year, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft turned its cameras to the sky and captured some incredible images. The twin cameras onboard, part of the spacecraft’s imaging system, photographed the planets Mars and Jupiter, along with Jupiter’s moons - Io, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.

Heads up, skywatchers: a planet alignment is up for viewing this weekend, with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars all visible with the naked eye, according to NASA. However, along with Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn aligning, extra help is needed to view these other three planets in the sky.

NASA’s Europa Clipper is using Mars and Earth’s gravity to travel efficiently to Jupiter. The spacecraft will study Europa’s ice and ocean.

While much of what you've been hearing about a "Planetary Parade," is pure hype, you still do have reason to look into the night sky Sunday.

When a mudflat crumbles on Earth, or an ice sheet splinters on one of Jupiter's moons (Europa), or an ancient lakebed breaks on Mars, do these fractures follow a hidden geometric script? Could similar patterns on another planet hint that water once existed there—and possibly sustained life?

NASA's Europa Clipper is about to use Mars' gravitational pull to slingshot itself towards Jupiter's smallest moon later this week. The craft launched from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in October 2024,

On Feb. 28, seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—will all grace the early evening sky. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be easy to spot with the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a small telescope.

Seven planets are on display in the night sky at the end of February, but some will be harder to spot than others. Here’s what you need to know to catch a glimpse.

Beginning around sunset, Saturn will be situated closest to the horizon, followed by Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars higher in the sky. While Neptune and Uranus also are within Earth’s line of sight, they’ll require binoculars or a telescope and are extremely difficult to locate, astronomers say.