People expecting to see a dazzling display of planets on Monday, June 3, may be disappointed by what they end up seeing in the sky, and instead experts say they should temper their expectations and wait until the end of the month to see the planetary alignment .
The past few months have been quite rich for backyard astronomers. First a solar eclipse in April, then a rare aurora in May, and now the planet parade will debut in 2024.
Astrologers should be able to see the six planets, Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn, aligned.
However, experts from NASA and Astronomers Without Borders agree that this will not be the best time to see the planetary show. This is because Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter will be absorbed by sunlight and will be too close to the horizon to be visible.
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Experts say be patient: Planet parade will be more of a show later in June
“For me, the closest you’ll get to a planetary parade is on June 29, when you’ll have Saturn, the third-quarter moon, Mars and Jupiter spread across the sky at dawn,” Preston Dyches, public engagement specialist at NASA Jet. Propulsion Laboratory told USA TODAY. Dyches has a background in astronomy and hosts NASA’s “What’s Up,” a monthly video series that describes what’s happening in the night sky.
Andrew Fazekas, communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders, says that when it comes to the planetarium show on June 3, it will be nearly impossible to see all the planets with the naked eye.
Both Fazekas and Dyches agree that it is better to see the planetary procession on June 29.
On June 3, Jupiter, Mercury and Uranus will be “too close to the Sun,” Fazekas said. So it will be difficult to see these three planets.
So people who decide to get up before the sun rises on Monday morning just to catch a glimpse of this celestial phenomenon can prepare themselves for disappointment.
In this case, good things come to those who wait. And waiting until the end of the month will give stargazers a better chance of seeing the planets.
“If you’re patient and wait until the end of the month, these planets will move further from the Sun higher up in the morning sky,” Fazekas told USA TODAY. “So you’ll have an easier chance of picking them out in the sky.
Not only will people get a better view of the planetary show if they wait until June 29, but they’ll be able to look at the stars from Friday night into Saturday morning instead of having to look at them during the work week like before. this monday morning
Solar eclipse excitement, aurora borealis create hype at planet shows
People expect to see something amazing on the morning of June 3, Fazekas said. But he worries that the expectations raised by two highly viral celestial events, the solar eclipse and the aurora borealis, and social media sensationalism could raise people’s expectations a little too high and lead to a lackluster experience.
He adds that he worries that one bad experience that has been exaggerated online could steal people’s enthusiasm for astronomy.
“What worries me is that we’re setting people up for disappointment,” Fazekas said. “And then they won’t want to do it again.”
According to Fazekas, he’s never seen so many people interested in watching the sky, and he doesn’t want the excitement to end.
What will you be able to see?
Called SkySafari Pro, you’ll be able to see the following during the June 29 planetarium show:
- Jupiter, which will be closest to the horizon
- Uranium
- Mars
- Moon
- Neptune
- Saturn
What is a planetary procession?
Basically, it’s when the planets line up and look like they’re marching across the night sky, forming a cosmic parade of sorts.
It’s also known as a large planetary alignment, reports Delaware Online, part of the USA TODAY Network.
What equipment do you need to see the planetarium show?
According to Fazekas, you’ll still need binoculars and telescopes to see some of the planets.
“Neptune is a planet that you need a strong telescope or a small telescope to see,” Fazekas said. “And it’s not easy to find either.
People who go stargazing on Friday, June 28 will be able to see Neptune right next to the moon. On June 29, it will be farther from the Moon and instead above it.
Apps like Skyview in Apple’s App Store can turn people’s phones into a tool to help them identify celestial bodies in the night sky.
Where will you be able to see the planetarium show?
According to Fazekas, people will need to do the following to get a view of the planetary procession:
- Get up early, before sunrise.
- Find a spot with a clear orientation to the eastern or southeastern sky.
- Prepare binoculars or binoculars to observe planets that are not visible to the naked eye.