Astronomy enthusiasts are preparing to watch a rare and unique event described as a “planetary parade,” where six planets from the solar system line up in the night sky.
Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus are expected to appear in a straight line in an alignment known as the “planetary procession” in the early hours of June 3 and 4, 2024.
The planet Venus is absent from this scene, while the moon appears in the form of a waning crescent.
This event is rare because the alignment of five planets is more common than the alignment of six planets.
This alignment appears in Earth’s sky, but it is not something that actually happens in the real universe.
Planetary alignments occur because all the planets in the solar system orbit the sun on a flat plane called the “ecliptic” or “zodiac zone.”
The planets appear on the same side of the sun as they move in their orbits, making them appear in the sky at the same time. The planets appear to be in a straight line because they are all in the ecliptic.
This astronomical event can be seen in early June about an hour before sunrise, as the planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible with the naked eye due to their brightness, while seeing Uranus and Neptune requires the use of binoculars or a telescope due to their distance and weak luminosity.
This event provides a unique opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts, and if they miss this alignment, they can prepare for similar events in the next few months, including August 28 and January 18, 2025.
The alignment is visible from most locations around the world on June 3, and the time and arrangement of the planets’ appearance is determined by the observation location.
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