NASA says the planetary parade will take place on June 29, 2024. Here's how to watch

There’s another planetary show in store this month, and it’s coming this weekend.

If you missed it last time or want a second chance to show off your telescope skills and snap some photos, here are the details.

Planetary Alignment on June 29, 2024

A planetary alignment, also known as a planetary parade, occurs when several planets come closely together on one side of the sun at the same time, according to Starwalk.space.

NASA Reports indicate that the second planetary alignment of June, a few weeks after the first alignment on June 3, will occur on Saturday, June 29.

Before dawn on June 29, Saturn, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter will be in a straight line in the sky. Sources such as USA Today and SkySafari Pro It is noteworthy that the planets Uranus and Neptune will also be visible during the event. While some planets will be visible with the naked eye, others like Neptune will need the help of high-powered binoculars or a telescope to see them.

How does planetary alignment work?

All the planets orbit the Sun on the same orbital plane, known as the Earth’s ecliptic, and they all travel along it and eventually catch up with each other over time. Once the two planets meet, it appears as if they are parallel as they pass Earth, but the line will not be completely straight, according to the American “space” website. Space.com website.

Since each planet moves at different speeds, the alignment will only last 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.

The minor planetary alignment includes three planets.

The minor planet alignment includes four planets.

Major planetary alignments involve five or six planets.

Major or perfect planetary alignments feature all the planets of the solar system, and sometimes Pluto.

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Where can you see the alignment of the planets on June 29?

The planetary alignment will be visible almost everywhere in the United States on June 29, according to NASA, but the ideal time to tune in may vary depending on your specific location. High mountains and tall buildings in your area can also hide the planets from view, according to Starwalk.space.

The best place to view is a part of the dark sky with no light pollution and a clear view of the horizon.

When will the next planetary alignment become visible?

If you end up missing out entirely, planetary alignments are not as rare as they seem, and there will be opportunities to watch the show again.

from Space.comFrom our perspective on Earth, it is very common to see the planets aligned along the Sun’s path, and this happens several times a year.

If the celestial event doesn’t happen on June 29, the next planetary parades to watch out for will occur on August 28 and January 18, 2025, both of which will include Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, according to Starwalk.space.

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