Starting this Friday (3), five planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — will align.
This rare phenomenon hasn’t happened since December 2004, and this year, the distance between Mercury and Saturn will be closer, according to Sky & Telescope.
Stargazers will need to have their binoculars handy, along with a clear view of the eastern horizon, to locate Mercury near the beginning of the month, the space magazine said.
As June progresses, Mercury will get brighter and easier to see, according to Diana Hannikinen, observation editor at Sky & Telescope.
The rest of the planets should be consistently visible to the naked eye, he added.
The best time to see all five planets is 30 minutes before sunrise, he said. The night before you plan to watch the schedule, check what time the sun will rise in your area.
Some stargazers are especially excited about the celestial event, including Hannikinen, who flew from his home west of Boston to a seaside town along the Atlantic Ocean to ensure an ideal view of this alignment.
“I’ll be there with my binoculars, looking east and southeast and crossing my fingers and toes for clear weather,” Hannikinen said.
But hey, you don’t have to travel to get a glimpse of the action, because it will be visible to people all over the world.
Sky lovers in the Northern Hemisphere can see the planets from the eastern horizon to the southeast, while those in the southern hemisphere should look along the eastern horizon to the northeast. The only requirement is a clear sky in the direction of the alignment.
If you wake up and bad weather blocks out the sky, don’t worry, Hannikinen said.
“Just keep looking throughout the month of June and as soon as you have a clear morning, go out and enjoy this view,” he said.
The moon joins the party
In addition to the five planets, the waning crescent moon will also align between Venus and Mars on June 24th.
Unlike in previous days, this special celestial alignment can be seen an hour before sunrise, Hannikinen said.
By the next day, the Moon will have continued its orbit around Earth, leaving it misaligned with the planets, he said.
If you miss the alignment of the five planets in sequential order, the next one 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: Strawberry Moon
- July 13: Deer Moon
- August 11: Sturgeon Moon
- September 10: Harvest Moon
- October 9: Hunter’s Moon
- November 8: Beaver Moon
- December 7: Cold Moon
These are the popular names associated with monthly full moons, but the meaning of each may vary among Native American tribes.
Lunar and solar eclipses
In addition to the planetary alignment, there will be one more total lunar eclipse and one 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 proper eclipse glasses to safely view solar eclipses, as sunlight can harm your eyes.
A partial solar eclipse on October 25 will be visible to those in 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 on display for those in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America on November 8, but the Moon sets for those in the eastern regions of North America.
meteor showers
Check the 11 remaining meteor showers that will peak in 2022:
- Southern Delta Aquarids: July 29th to 30th
- Alpha Capricornids: July 30th to 31st
- Perseids: August 11th to 12th
- Orionids: October 20th to 21st
- Southern Taurids: November 4th to 5th
- Northern Taurids: November 11th to 12th
- Leonidas: November 17th to 18th
- Geminis: December 13th to 14th
- Bears: December 21st to December 22nd
If you live in an urban area, you might want to go somewhere that isn’t full of 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 up. And give your eyes 20-30 minutes, without looking at your phone or other electronic devices, to adjust to the dark so meteors are easier to spot.
Source: CNN Brasil
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