Around 6:30 pm on March 27, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter -- sometimes known as the "naked-eye planets" -- will line up in a west-to-southeast string across the sky.

Although the five planets appear together fairly frequently, this particular configuration occurs only once every 32 years.

Each of the planets has something special to offer during this astronomically interesting period.

Mercury, hanging low over the horizon, is usually difficult to see. But it will be putting on its best evening display for the year in the second half of this month.

Venus, always the brightest object in the night sky after the moon, will reach its highest evening elevation in eight years.

Mars, although it will appear only as a tiny orange dot, has been a focus of interest in recent weeks as the host of robotic explorers Spirit and Opportunity.

Saturn will still be showing off its magnificent rings at just past maximum tilt open. They can easily be seen even with a small telescope.

Jupiter will be at its brightest and biggest for the entire year, and will dominate the skies after Venus sets. Its clouds and four bright moons will also be visible with a small telescope.

Between March 22 and 31, people can look for the planets about 45 minutes after sunset.

On March 22, a crescent moon will appear low in the western sky, above and to the left of Mercury. On March 25, the crescent will move up beside glittering Venus before going on to dim the red light of Mars the next day. On March 27, as the moon moves to its apogee, the five stars will appear strung across the sky, forming an angle of 135 degrees. Two days after that, Saturn will be at a position slightly below the moon. Finally, on April 3, the full moon and giant Jupiter will do a duet, with the planet appearing to the right and above the moon.

(China.org.cn by Li Jinhui, March 17, 2004)