Sky gazers around the world will have the rare opportunity to witness a celestial event set to unfold on Monday, June 3.
According to reports from the Star Walk astronomy app, six of the eight planets in our solar system—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—are poised to align in what astronomers describe as a "planetary parade."
What you need to see the planetary alignments?
While Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be visible to the naked eye, spotting Neptune and Uranus will require a telescope or high-powered binoculars, advises the app.
This alignment may extend beyond a single day, with the planets potentially visible several days before or after June 3.
Where to witness the celestial event?
The event is expected to be visible across most areas in the Northern Hemisphere, contingent upon weather conditions, according to USA Today.
Star Walk describes such alignments as occurring when planets cluster closely on one side of the Sun, creating the illusion of closeness in the sky as observed from Earth.
While the planets won't align perfectly in a straight line due to their varied orbital planes, the sight of multiple planets appearing aligned is nonetheless remarkable.
Star Walk notes that the alignment's impressiveness increases as the sector in which the planets appear becomes smaller.
When will another planetary alignment occur?
Excitingly, this won't be the only opportunity to witness such an alignment. Star Walk predicts similar alignments on August 28, 2024, and January 18, 2025.
Additionally, on February 28, 2025, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars are expected to align, offering sky watchers the chance to see seven planets simultaneously.
This astronomical event follows the recent spectacle of the Northern Lights illuminating skies across regions in the U.K., Europe, and the Northern Hemisphere.
