The Universe plans to present us with a rare planetary phenomenon. From planet Earth, lovers of the cosmos and curious observers will be able to see, from Friday, an alignment of five major planets in the Solar System. A scientist confirms BBC that, if the sky is clear, it will be enough to see Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars with the “naked eye”.
We’ll have not one but many opportunities to enjoy a rare lineup of the bright planets over the next few weeks. Amazingly, they’ll be aligned in order of their distance from the Sun.https://t.co/cTdifIjAye pic.twitter.com/5tsxrEEzam
— Sky & Telescope (@SkyandTelescope) June 21, 2022
This great parade of planets will be a special opportunity to see Mercury, which is usually obscured by the bright light of the Sun.
“The planets will appear “as a pearl necklace scattered near the horizon“, explains space scientist and principal stargazer of the Popular Astronomy Society, Lucie Green, to the BBC.
Planets will appear in the east and move south. Therefore, Mercury will be the last planet to appear to complete the queue. The planets will be ordered according to their positions from the Sun.
On Friday, a Crescent moon will join the assembly line, rising between Venus and Mars.
Those interested in the Northern Hemisphere will have at their disposal the best seats in the “house”. To observe the phenomenon, they must wake up before sunrise.
O best time to watch the phenomenon is between 45 and 90 minutes before sunrise. Preferably, observers should look east and very close to the horizon, ideally from a high point.
O last planetary alignment took place on the 4th of July 2004, day when all the planets lined up simultaneously. already the next parade will be held 18 years from nowthat is, the September 8, 2040.
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