The next planetary alignment – the Planet Parade – will happen on June 3, 2024.
“In the early morning from the last week in May through June 4 you can see Saturn in the southeast, Mars in the east and the moon, all forming what appears to be a line and visible with the naked eye,” MIT Technical Instructor and Observatory Manager Tim Brothers said. “In fact there’s another planet appearing between Mars and Saturn – the planet Neptune, though you will need binoculars or a small telescope to see it.”
Here are details from Star Walk about seeing each planet:
- Starting late at night, Saturn, which has a yellowish tint, will be visible with the naked eye in constellation Aquarius.
- Neptune, will be visible around the same time, but binoculars or a telescope will be needed to spot it. It will be located near Pisces.
- Mars, with a reddish tine, will rise next. Look for it the Pisces constellation. It will be visible to the naked eye.
- At dawn, Uranus will appear on the eastern horizon in the constellation Taurus. You will bee binoculars or a telescope.
- Also at dawn, Jupiter will appear on the eastern horizon in the constellation Taurus. No telescope or binoculars are necessary to spot the planet.
- Finally, Mercury will also appear in the constellation Taurus. It may be visible with the naked eye, but it may be harder due to its proximity to the sun.
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