There’s another planetary show in store this month, and it’s coming this weekend.
If you missed the last chance or want a second chance to show off your telescope skills and snap some photos, here are the details.
Planetary Alignment on June 29, 2024
A planetary alignment, also known as a planetary parade, occurs when several planets are closely clustered on one side of the sun at the same time, according to Starwalk.Space.
NASA Reports indicate that the second planetary alignment of June, a few weeks after the first alignment on June 3, will occur on Saturday, June 29.
Before dawn on June 29, Saturn, the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter will be in alignment in the sky. Sources like USA Today and SkySafari Pro share that Uranus and Neptune will also be visible during the event. While some of the planets will be visible to the naked eye, others like Neptune will require the help of high-powered binoculars or a telescope to be seen.
How does planetary alignment work?
All the planets orbit the Sun along the same orbital plane, known as the Earth’s ecliptic, and they all travel along it and eventually meet each other over time. Once the planets meet, it’s as if they’re lined up as they orbit Earth, but the line won’t be perfectly straight, according to Space.com.
Since each planet is moving at different speeds, the alignment will only last for a short time, depending on each planet’s distance from the Sun. This is also why planetary alignments don’t always feature the same number of planets.
- A conjunction occurs when two or more planets approach each other in the sky.
- The minor planet alignment includes three planets.
- A minor planetary alignment includes four planets.
- A major planetary alignment involves five or six planets.
- Major or perfect planetary alignments feature all the planets of the solar system, and sometimes Pluto.
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Where to see the planetary alignment on June 29
According to NASA, the planets’ alignment will be visible almost everywhere in the United States on June 29, but the ideal time to align may vary depending on your specific location. According to Starwalk.space, high mountains and tall buildings in your area can also hide planets from view.
The best place to view is a part of the dark sky with no light pollution and a clear view of the horizon.
When will the next planetary alignment be visible?
If you end up missing the view completely, planetary alignments are not as rare as they seem, and there will be opportunities to view the view again.
from Space.comFrom our perspective on Earth, it is very common to see the planets aligned along the Sun’s path, and this happens several times a year.
In case the celestial event on June 29 doesn’t work out for you, the next planetary marches to note will occur on August 28 and January 18, 2025, both featuring Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. According to Starwalk.space.
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