6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment
If an evening spent stargazing is your cup of tea, then you'll definitely want to know about the next astrological event in 2024 – the August planetary alignment.
This rare phenomenon means you'll be able to see six (yes, six) planets align in the sky.
Here's everything to know about the rare planetary alignment taking place very soon...
What does a planetary alignment mean?
"Often referred to as a "planet parade", this cosmic phenomenon involves the alignment of three to eight planets," explains the astronomy app, Star Walk.
This is due to an astronomical event whereby planets gather closely on one side of the Sun, creating a phenomenon in which multiple planets can be seen at the same time from the Earth.
Whilst the planets may appear to be in a single line, they won't actually be in orbital alignment. However, the closer they get, the more spectacular the scene.
Star Walk add: "When the Earth is one of the planets gathered on one side of the Sun, it appears to the observer that several planets are aligned in the sky. The smaller the sector in which the planets are seen, the more spectacular the alignment."
When is the next planetary alignment?
The next planetary alignment is set to take place on Wednesday 28 August 2024. Six planets – Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn – will align in the sky.
Star Walk explains that: "You will be able to see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with the naked eye, however Mercury will be closer to the horizon and harder to spot. To see Neptune and Uranus, you'll need a telescope or high-powered binoculars."
It adds that yellowish Saturn will be in the sky from late evening onwards. It will be visible with the naked eye in the constellation Aquarius.
Neptune will be located in the nearby constellation Pisces, but you’ll need high-powered binoculars to spot it. In the morning, when the other planets rise, Saturn and Neptune will move down to the western horizon.
Later in the evening, Uranus will also rise and can be found in the Taurus constellation, visible with high-powered binoculars.
Jupiter and Mars will also be visible to the naked eye in the constellation Taurus. The waning crescent Moon will also shine nearby, providing an even more spectacular view.
Then, at dawn, Mercury will rise – and the planet will be located in the constellation Leo. It will be visible to the naked eye, however don’t wait too long to see it, as the Sun will soon rise next to it.
To help you along, you can download free stargazing apps, like Sky Tonight, to make it easy to identify any celestial object in the sky.
How often does a planetary alignment happen?
Whilst an alignment of a couple of planets is quite common, seeing five or more is rare. This August planetary alignment is the last time to see the phenomenon in 2024 – afterwards you won't see another alignment of over five planets until 2025!
3rd June 2024 - Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn.
28th August 2024 - Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.
18th January 2025 - Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.
28th February 2025 - Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars. It's your next chance to see 7 planets at once.
29th August 2025 - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.
How do you see a planetary alignment?
Much like any other astrological event, your best bet is to head to somewhere with as little light pollution as possible.
It also helps to have as much of the sky visible as possible, with nothing obstructing your view of the horizon. For example, a field on top of a hill would make an excellent choice, as would a beach.
For the best viewing experience, make sure to invest in some top-quality binoculars.
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