Starting in the early hours of Friday morning, June 3, the five planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will line up in planetary order.
This rare phenomenon has not occurred since December 2004, and this year the distance between Mercury and Saturn will be shorter, according to Sky & Telescope.
Star observers will need to have their binoculars on hand and a clear view of the eastern horizon to detect Mercury near the beginning of the month, the space magazine said. As June progresses, Mercury will become brighter and easier to see, according to Diana Hannikainen, Sky & Telescope’s observation editor.
The rest of the planets should be constantly visible to the naked eye, he added.
The best time to see the five planets is in the 30 minutes before sunrise, he said. The night before you see the lineup, check when the sun rises in your area.
Some star observers are especially excited about the celestial event, including Hannikainen. He flew from his home in west Boston to a beach town along the Atlantic Ocean to ensure an optimal view of the alignment.
“I’ll be out there with my binoculars, looking east and southeast and crossing all my fingers and toes so it will be clear,” Hannikainen said.
No need to travel to see the action because it will be visible to people around the world.
Star observers in the northern hemisphere can see the planets from the eastern horizon to the southeast, while those in the southern hemisphere should look along the horizon from east to northeast. . The only requirement is a clear sky in the direction of alignment.
If you wake up and the weather blocks the sky, don’t worry, Hannikainen said.
“Just keep looking throughout the month of June and as soon as you have a clear morning, go out and enjoy this view,” he said.
The moon joins the party
In addition to the five planets, the waning crescent moon will also be aligned between Venus and Mars on June 24.
Unlike previous days, this special celestial alignment can be seen an hour before sunrise, Hannikainen said.
The next day, the moon will have continued its orbit around the Earth, moving it out of alignment with the planets, he said.
If you miss the alignment of five planets in sequential order, the next one will happen in 2040, according to Sky & Telescope.
There will be seven more full moons in 2022, according to The Old Farmers’ Almanac:
- June 14: Strawberry Moon
- July 13: Buck moon
- August 11: Sturgeon moon
- September 10: Harvest Moon
- October 9: Hunter’s Moon
- November 8: Beaver Moon
- December 7: Cold Moon
These are the popular names associated with the monthly full moons, but the importance of each may vary among Native American tribes.
Lunar and solar eclipses
There will be one more total lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse in 2022, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Partial solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun but blocks only part of its light. Be sure to wear proper eclipse glasses to see solar eclipses safely, as sunlight can be harmful to the eye.
A partial solar eclipse on October 25 will be visible to those in Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Northeast Africa, the Middle East, West Asia, India and western China. None of the partial solar eclipses will be visible from North America.
A total lunar eclipse will also be shown for those in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America on November 8 between 3:01 am ET and 8:58 am ET, but the moon is will pose for those from eastern regions of North America.
Meteor shower
Take a look at the remaining 11 showers that will peak in 2022:
- Aquariids of the southern delta: from 29 to 30 July
- Alpha Capricorns: July 30-31
- Perseids: August 11-12
- Orionids: October 20-21
- Southern Taurides: November 4-5
- Northern Taurides: November 11-12
- Leonids: November 17-18
- Geminids: December 13-14
- Ursids: from the 21st to the 22nd of December
If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that is not full of city lights for the best view.
Find an open area with a wide view of the sky. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look up. And give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes, without looking at your phone or other electronic devices, to adjust to the darkness so that meteors are easier to spot.