Twilight Trio: Mercury, Venus and Jupiter Create Brief 3-Planet Parade

Mercury, Venus and Jupiter align low in the western sky just after sunset on June 12 for a brief, visually striking 'planetary parade' that lasts about 30–45 minutes. Venus will be the brightest at first, followed by Mercury and Jupiter as they drift away from the sun. Telescopes can reveal Mercury’s half‑moon and Venus’s gibbous disk, while Jupiter may show cloud belts. For photographers, a wide‑angle lens framing the trio over a landscape (mountains, city skyline, or trees) makes for a dramatic twilight image.