Delawareans have good reason to get up early on Monday and hopefully witness an out-of-this-world event. And that is not an exaggeration.
The Great American Eclipse has passed, and now the newest reason to look at the sky is to see the planetary alignment, also known as the “planetary parade.”
But it all depends on how the weather holds out. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know for this special event on June 3.
Planetary alignment 2024 on Monday, June 3
Planetary alignment occurs when multiple planets come together on one side of the sun at the same time, according to Starwalk.space.
Before dawn on June 3, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be aligned in the sky.
Although six planets will be part of the alignment, only Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. Neptune and Uranus will be visible only with the help of high-powered binoculars or a telescope, LiveScience reports.
How does the 2024 planetary alignment work?
All the planets orbit the Sun along the same orbital plane, known as the ecliptic on Earth, and they all travel along it and eventually catch up with each other over time. Once the planets meet, they appear to be aligned, but the line won’t be perfectly straight, according to Space.com.
Since each planet moves at different speeds, the alignment will last only a short time, depending on each planet’s distance from the sun. This is also why planetary alignments do not always feature the same number of planets.
- A conjunction is when two or more planets approach each other in the sky.
- A mini planetary alignment includes three planets.
- A small planetary alignment includes four planets.
- A great planetary alignment includes five or six planets.
- A large or complete planetary alignment features all the planets in the solar system and sometimes Pluto.
Where to watch the 2024 planetary alignment on June 3
The planetary alignment will be visible almost everywhere in the US on June 3, but the ideal time to tune in may vary depending on your specific location. Tall mountains and tall buildings in your area could also hide planets from view, according to Starwalk.space.
The best place to observe will be a patch of dark sky with no light pollution and a clear view of the horizon. Most who view the event with the naked eye will see a crescent moon with Mars shining to the right, looking like a bright orange star, and Saturn further to the right, looking like a bright yellowish-white star, LiveScience reports.
What is the weather forecast for the planetary alignment on June 3?
In Delaware, before sunrise (which is before 5 a.m.) on Monday, June 3, the forecast is a chance of rain and around 66 degrees. On Tuesday, June 4, the forecast is partly cloudy and 64 degrees. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy and 63 degrees, according to Weather.gov.
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The lineup can last more than a day, so it’s possible to watch it another night if you miss it the first time. If you end up missing it completely, the planetary alignment is not as rare as it seems and there will be chances of witnessing the parade again.
A great northern lights over the United States?Maybe. Meteorologists monitor the first days of June
Moon information:Learn more about the May Flower Moon and when you can see it this month. Also, details of the June moon.
When will the next planetary alignment be visible?
From Space.com’s perspective, it is quite common to see planets aligned along the ecliptic from our perspective on Earth, and this happens a few times a year.
In case the June 3 celestial event doesn’t suit you, the next planetary parades to watch out for will take place on August 28 and January 18, 2025, both featuring Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. according to Starwalk.space.
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