How to see the "Planets parade" dazzling in the sky on Monday
The next planetary alignment is not expected for an additional 16 years.
A geomagnetic storm should be nightfall next week, but before Northern Lights show , experts alerts space enthusiasts from another celestial event that should occur during the credited hours of June 3. Six planets - Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn - will line up in a small sector in what some call it " planet parade . "And star walk reports that a this kind will not happen again before September 2040.
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Stargazers heard for the first time Rare display Via an article on Star Walk's social networks. According to the planetarium application, whose Sky Tonight tool can be used to see the parade, a planetary alignment is an "astronomical event when the planets come together closely on one side of the sun at the same time, as shown above above of the solar system ".
"Some people think that the planets of the solar system can form a straight line, as seen from the sun. However, the planets cannot reach the complete three -dimensional alignment," said Star Walk. "Even a more loose grouping in a quadrant (a 90 -degree sector) is extremely rare: all the planets come together in a quadrant only 7 times in the current millennium."
Around 3 a.m. local time on June 3, those north of the equator will be able to see the planet parade closely. As with any celestial encounter, the best views occur in areas with little obstruction (such as pollution, large buildings, trees and lights in the city). Although spectators can identify some of the planets without additional help, tools like binoculars are necessary if you hope to go six for six.
"Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be identified with the naked eye, but you will need a high power telescope or binoculars to see Neptune and Uranus", explains Star Walk.
If the sky is clear and everything goes as planned, some are convinced that passers -by will be entitled to a dazzling view. However, broadcast meteorologists Joe Rao is not as optimistic. In his Space column, rao warns that "see some of these planets at all will be problematic . ""
"People who plan to get up early and go out on June 3 expecting to see the swollen disc of Jupiter or the rings of Saturn in a glance, at the very least, quite disappointed," wrote Rao , citing planetary alignment as a "celestial lie".
According to Rao, the parade will start around 2:00 a.m. local time when Saturn begins his ascent in the Eastern sky. Without binoculars, the planet will appear as "a relatively brilliant brilliant light with a yellowish white shade".
Due to their proximity to the sun, Mercury and Jupiter will also be difficult to spot and will probably be "masked by the brilliant glow of the morning twilight", added Roa. They will lean "extremely low on the east-north-east" horizon and should increase 30 minutes before sunrise.
"So, unless you have a beautiful flat horizon, without obstructions (like buildings or distant trees), you can probably forget to observe the smallest planet (Mercury) of the solar system next to the larger planet (Jupiter), "said Rao.
Uranus will also be almost invisible, especially with the eye without help. "Uranus will only get up before sunrise, when the morning twilight will be well advanced. So, like Mercury and Jupiter, there is no chance to see Uranus either", by Rao. If the sky is exceptionally clear and dark, the chances of an increase in observation.
Mars will be a "relatively brilliant orange light", falling to the right of the moon, which will take the form of a decreasing crescent, wrote Rao. Conversely, Neptune will be one of the most difficult planets to spot, so plan to use twins or a telescope.
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Although the planet parade can be less dazzling than expected, fans can always catch daring displays from the moon, Mars and Saturn. With the right resources such as binoculars, a telescope or a stargazing application, spectators can also be able to see some of the planets more difficult to see.
"So, if you go out around 3:30 am or 4 am on Monday morning, do not expect to be impressed by the sight of a planet parade. What you will probably see is a crescent moon and a" Star "VIVE Orange Shining to his right (March) and further to the right will be another relatively brilliant" star "" shiny with a yellowish white shade (Saturn) ", explained Rao.