In early June, watch 6 planets 'march' in line in the sky

During the first week of June, stargazers have the opportunity to witness the rare event of six planets aligning in the sky.

This event is called the "planetary parade" . 6 planets will line up on June 3 including Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Illustration of the planets aligning on June 3 - (Photo: India Today)

According to Fox5, planetary alignment is a term used to describe the position of planets in the Solar System such that they appear to be in a straight line or close together when viewed from a specific point, in the field of vision. Our planet is the Earth.

It's not unusual for multiple planets to appear in the sky at the same time, but multiple planets in alignment is quite rare, according to ScienceAlert . In particular, 5 planets in alignment are more common than 6 planets.

During the event on June 3, the planets will line up from the low horizon in the east, with Jupiter closest to the horizon, and gradually higher are Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn.

To best view the "planetary parade," you need to find a spot with a clear and unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. Also, choose a place with little light pollution like the countryside or a place with dark skies.

Illustration of the Sun and planets in the Solar System - (Photo: Scientific American).

The best time to observe the "parade" is about 20 minutes before sunrise. This is the time when the six planets can be observed most clearly, according to Astronomy magazine .

We can observe Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Saturn with the naked eye, but we must use binoculars or a telescope to clearly see Uranus and Neptune.

Stargazing apps can also help enhance your experience. These apps help locate the planets, providing real-time sky maps to determine the exact locations of the planets and their rising and setting times.

If you miss the event on June 3, stargazers still have the opportunity to watch the 6 planets align before dawn on August 28, 2024 and January 18, 2025.

In addition, on February 28, 2025, up to 7 planets will appear at the same time in the sky.