Tonight: Parade of Planets Provides More Than Usual for Oregon, Washington, Coastlines

Published 02/28/25 at 8:15 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – With clear skies throughout much of Oregon and Washington, tonight will be a treat for astro-gazers. This evening, February 28 brings a unique parade planets. Five planets will be visible to the eye but two others will be viewable in the void if you've got optics. (Graphic courtesy OMSI)

Some inland areas may have line-of-sight issues with part of it, and the Oregon and Washington coast aren't looking exceptional for weather. However, inland like Portland, Seattle, Yakima, Eugene and Medford are all looking at very clear skies tonight.

According to Jim Todd of Portland's OMSI, it all starts to come together just after 6 p.m., as the waxing crescent moon appears between Saturn and Mercury, very low on the western horizon. A little bit higher up will be Venus, Jupiter and Mars – quite visible to the naked eye. Neptune and Uranus won't be far, but you'll need optics to see them.

- Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather  - Inland Oregon Weather

The fact that Saturn and Mercury are mostly on the western horizon will make it hard for inland areas, but the Washington or Oregon coast should get a great view when the clouds periodically break. They'll also be harder to see due to their lack of brightness.

Rockaway Beach - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“As the planets continue drifting around the solar system, they will gradually drop out of the evening sky,” Todd said. “Planet parades usually happen each year, but some years are more or less than others.”

This year, we on Earth get lucky.

Hug Point - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

There's a bit more in store above inland Washington and Oregon, as well as spots like Coos Bay, Bandon, Seaside, Garibaldi, Manzanita or Newport.

Todd said Saturn reaches solar conjunction on March 12, and then the rings crosses its plane on March 23 (meaning they align so that it looks like a straight line and not different circles.

Depoe Bay - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“Neptune disappears next followed by Mercury and Venus in late March,” Todd said. “Jupiter is at superior conjunction on June 24. Mars will be a nightly presence until early August.”

Mars has been like a big red beacon for some months now in the skies. It's hard to miss.

You can learn more about the planets and the night sky in Starry Nights Live! shown daily in OMSI's Kendall Planetarium.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted