Starting in the early morning hours of Friday, June 3, the five planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be in planetary order.
This rare phenomenon has not happened since December 2004, and this year the distance between Mercury and Saturn will be less, according to Sky & Telescope.
The astronomers will have to have their binoculars on hand, along with a clear view of the eastern horizon, in order to spot Mercury near the beginning of the month, the space magazine writes. As June progresses, Mercury will become brighter and easier to see, according to Diana Hanikainen, Sky & Telescope’s observation editor.
The other planets must be seen with the naked eye at all times, she added.
The best time to explore the five planets is 30 minutes before sunrise, she said. In the evening, before you plan to see the alignment, check when the sun will rise in your area.
Some star lovers are especially excited about the celestial event, including Hanikainen. She flew from her home west of Boston to a coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean to provide optimal views of the route.
“I will be there with my binoculars, looking east and southeast and crossing my fingers and toes, it will be clear,” Hanikainen said.
You don’t have to travel to see the action, because it will be visible to people all over the world.
The star gauges in the northern hemisphere can see the planets from the eastern to the southeastern horizon, while those in the southern hemisphere must look along the eastern to the northeastern horizon. 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, Hanikainen said.
“Just keep watching all of June and as soon as you have a clear morning, go out and enjoy this view,” she said.
The moon joins the party
In addition to the five planets, the waning crescent will also be on the line between Venus and Mars on June 24.
Unlike days before, this special celestial alignment can be seen an hour before sunrise, Hanikainen said.
By the next day, the moon will continue its orbit around the Earth, displacing it from leveling with the planets, she said.
If you miss the alignment of five planets in succession, the next thing 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: Berry Moon
- July 13: Buck Moon
- August 11: sturgeon moon
- September 10: Harvest moon
- October 9: Hunters’ Moon
- November 8: Beaver Moon
- December 7: Cold moon
These are popular names associated with the lunar full moons, but the meaning of each may vary from tribe to tribe.
Lunar and solar eclipses
There will be another 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 suitable sunglasses to safely watch solar eclipses, as sunlight can be harmful to the eye.
A partial solar eclipse on October 25 will be visible to residents of Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Northeast Africa, the Middle East, West Asia, India and West 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 a.m. ET and 8:58 a.m. ET – but the moon will set for those in eastern North America. .
Meteor showers
Check out the remaining 11 showers that will reach their peak in 2022:
- Aquariums in the southern delta: from 29 to 30 July
- Alpha Capricorns: July 30-31
- Perseids: August 11-12
- Orions: October 20-21
- Southern Taurides: from 4 to 5 November
- Northern Tauris: 11 to 12 November
- Leonids: November 17-18
- Geminids: December 13-14
- Ursidi: December 21-22
If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that is not lit by city lights to get 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 straight up. And give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes – without looking at your phone or other electronics – to adjust to the darkness so that the meteors are easier to spot.
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