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Point your eyes to the sky this June!
Summer in the cosmos is off to a spectacular start due to the astronomical activity taking place, from the upcoming full moon display to a rare planetary alignment.
June will kick off with the alignment of six planets in the solar system, a phenomenon being dubbed a “parade of planets.” The dazzling display follows a slew of recent celestial events, including the rare total solar eclipse in April and the solar storm that triggered the Northern Lights across the United States in May.
According to NASA, a planetary alignment occurs based on the time each planet takes to complete one orbit around the sun. Because the duration for each orbit differs per planet, it explains why these events are rare — especially those larger in size like this one.
Similar to the previous cosmic events, the planetary parade will be visible depending on location as well as the technology used. The naked eye will be limited to the planets viewed from Earth.
The planetary parade is predicted to be visible from almost everywhere across the globe to some degree, including places like Abu Dhabi and New York. Visibility isn’t restricted to one day either, so viewers will have multiple chances to catch a glimpse.
Read on for when and how to spot the 2024 planetary parade.
Which planets will align in the 2024 parade of planets?
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Not all planetary alignments qualify as planetary parades. A celestial event is deemed a parade when several planets are involved in the lineup — like this one, which will include all but two planets.
The alignment will consist of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, according to the astronomy app Star Walk. The moon will also be visible during this time, according to Science Alert, and will be in a waning crescent.
When is the 2024 parade of planets?
The upcoming planetary parade will occur on June 3 in the New York area. It began in a small sector in the São Paulo sky on May 27, according to the Star Walk app.
The planetary parade is predicted to be visible from Sydney on May 28, Mexico on May 29, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong on May 30 and Athens and Tokyo on June 2.
Can you see the 2024 parade of planets from Earth?
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While several locations across the globe will have the opportunity to spot the 2024 planetary alignment from Earth, the degree to which it will be visible is dependent upon the technology at hand.
While special glasses won’t be needed to view the display like the rare solar eclipse required in April, high-powered binoculars and telescopes will create a better experience for the gazer to spot the majority of the planets.
Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be bright enough to see with the naked eye, according to Science Alert. The best time to spot them is after sunset or before dawn.
When is the next planetary alignment expected to occur?
The next time a large planetary parade will occur is on Aug. 28, 2024. The morning alignment will include Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.