During June a rare celestial display becomes visible with the naked eye: a planetary alignment that will allow observers to spot almost every planet in the solar system together. This unusual event can be seen from many locations and lasts for several days into early July. To catch the best view, it helps to rise early because the phenomenon appears just before sunrise.
Five planets are currently visible this week. From the horizon upward, the scene presents Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. According to the Royal Astronomical Observatory of Madrid, a bright planetary lineup includes these five, with Uranus and Neptune remaining hidden because they lie too far from Earth to be seen without aid.
Although it is common to see two or three planets aligned at once, witnessing five simultaneously is rare. In fact, such a display has not occurred since 2004 and is not expected again until 2040, NASA notes. The alignment of five planets is said to occur on average only once every 57 years.
Saturday, June 11 vision stellarium
At month’s end, the Moon will join the lineup, making the spectacle even more compelling. This is a reason to rise a little earlier than usual to observe the phenomenon in full.
The hardest planet to observe is Mercury, for several reasons: its small size, great distance, and especially its proximity to the Sun, which makes its glow faint and easily lost in solar glare. Once the Sun meets the horizon, Mercury tends to disappear from view.
A planetary alignment occurs when several planets appear in the same plane from Earth, forming a straight or nearly straight line. This alignment is a geometric arrangement seen from our planet and would not necessarily be a straight line if observed from space.
solar system Pot
When to observe the alignment?
These days are suitable for viewing now, but the optimal window is the last ten days of June and the first days of July. Remember that sunrise light will wash out the planets, so beginning observations about an hour before sunrise yields the best results.
Where to watch?
Since Mercury and Venus appear very low on the horizon, observers should position themselves along the coast with an unobstructed sea view or from a high, flat vantage point without tall mountains. Look toward the east and southeast.
What should you wear to observe this?
With the five visible planets visible to the naked eye, no instruments are necessary to see the alignment. A medium aperture telescope (around 200 mm) can reveal Uranus and Neptune, which are far beyond naked-eye visibility.
Is there an app or website to simulate the view?
Stellarium, a free astronomy program, offers a reliable way to see what the sky looks like at any time of year. It can be downloaded for PC or mobile devices. On a computer, users should select their observing location so Stellarium can display the sky from that spot.
…
Environment department contact address:[email protected]