Hoosiers who wake up early Monday morning can catch a “planet parade,” as some have called it — an alignment of six planets that occurs in the predawn hours of June 3.
While this is exciting news, avid sky watchers may need to curb their enthusiasm. Most of these planets won’t be visible in the US, according to NASA, which said the next closest thing to a “planetary parade” won’t be until much later.
Here’s what we know about it and other celestial events in June.
Which six planets will align on June 3, 2024?
The June 3 alignment will consist of Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn. Experts say most of these planets will be hidden from view, however.
NASA dismisses ‘planet parade’ sighting
As part of its monthly skywatching advisory, NASA included a note that debunked notions that the parade of planets would be easy to see.
“Several sources on the Internet have shared the excitement of a “parade of planets” visible in the morning sky in early June (particularly on June 3). In reality, only two of the six planets supposedly on display – Saturn and Mars – will actually be visible,” according to a statement from NASA, adding that Jupiter and Mercury are unlikely to be visible because they will be at or below the horizon in morning twilight.
And without a telescope, Uranus and Neptune are too dim to see with the naked eye, NASA said, especially when the morning sky is bright.
What planets can I see lining up in Indiana on June 3?
The planetary alignment will be visible across the northern hemisphere toward the eastern sky, weather permitting, but bring a pair of binoculars, suggested Butler University Professor of Physics and Astronomy Brian Murphy.
“With a clear northeast horizon, and maybe a pair of binoculars, one should be able to make out Jupiter and Mercury,” Murphy said in a message to IndyStar. “The Moon, Mars and Saturn should not be a problem as they appear far from the Sun in the sky. In fact, they can be seen well before sunrise.”
Venus, however, and many other planets in the line, will be nearly impossible to spot because of their proximity to the sun, Murphy said.
What time do the planets align?
The alignment occurs on June 3, 2024, just before dawn. Murphy said the best time to view the sky will be 15 to 30 minutes before sunrise.
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What is the weather forecast for Central Indiana on June 3?
By Friday, according to the National Weather Service for Central Indiana, Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Monday will be mostly sunny with a high near 85, south winds. 3 to 8 mph and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2:00 p.m.
Do you need a telescope or binoculars to see the planets?
At the very least, experts say you’ll need high-powered binoculars to see most of the planets—Mercury and Jupiter will be extremely low in the sky. Uranus will be quite dark and Neptune will look like a binocular star because of its distance from Earth. But Mars and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye.
NASA says another ‘planet parade’ is happening at the end of June
The closest thing to another “parade of the planets,” NASA says, will happen on June 29, 2024, when Saturn, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter line up in the morning sky.
How do planetary alignments happen?
The planets in our solar system are constantly revolving around the sun. Over time, they slowly pass each other as they travel along the same path, the ecliptic. According to NASA, from our perspective on Earth, they sometimes appear to be lined up. However, alignment formation will be short-lived as each planet moves at different speeds, depending on its distance from the sun.
How rare are planetary alignments?
Planetary alignments are not extremely rare, especially with two to four planets. They happen several times a year. With five or more planets in alignment, it is less common. The last planetary alignment seen in the Northern Hemisphere occurred on April 8.
Here’s a quick look at the planets lining up on June 3rd.
Astronomical events that occur in June
Skywatchers should note the following dates for June 2024, according to NASA.
◾ June 3: The crescent moon sets below Mars in the morning twilight. Look for them down in the eastern sky.
◾ June 6: New moon.
◾ June 21: Full moon.
◾ June 24: Jupiter is now visible low in the east before sunrise. Look for the bright planet about 10 degrees above the horizon this last week of June, forming a line with Mars and Saturn that extends southward.
◾ June 27: Look for the rising Moon in the east with Saturn around midnight. At dawn this morning, you’ll find them high in the southern sky. They appear very close together – close enough to appear in the same field of view through binoculars.
Others read:Here’s when every full moon shines in 2024
John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at [email protected].
