A group of six planets will line up and light up the night sky this week, folks.
On August 28, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn will line up for our viewing pleasure. The best time to see this rare planetary parade is early morning, just before sunrise.
Bonus: depending on cloud cover, the moon will also be visible.
What is a planetary alignment?
A planetary alignment goes down, up, when more than two planets line up in the sky. If three planets align, it is known as a mini-planetary alignment; four constitute a minor planetary alignment, five or more are considered major, and in the ultra-rare case that eight or eight plus Pluto are in alignment, we have a major or full planetary alignment.
What is a planetary parade?
When we have five or more planets entering a small area of the sky, an alignment is upgraded to parade status, not an official astronomical term, but one that is used quickly, loosely, and with a touch more whimsical than magicians usually allow. of space.
This week’s event makes the cut.
As Time Magazine reports, far from being a straight line, a planetary parade is mostly an optical illusion. Unlike the 1974 alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune captured by the Voyager spacecraft, the planets visible on August 28 will jump across the sky at different depths, distances and positions.
Time likens the phenomenon to “randomly placing six different people in six different spots in a field and positioning yourself so that you gather them all in the lens of your camera.”
When is the parade of the planets?
The ideal time to see this celestial event is about an hour before sunrise on the 28th, around 5:20 a.m. for people in New York.
If you miss waking up before dawn, fear not – the stretch will be visible for several days afterwards.
Where to see
As with all awe-inspiring cosmic phenomena, the closer you get to dark sky communities and the further away you are from light pollution, the more brilliant your view will be. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, but you’ll need a telescope or a pair of high-powered binoculars to catch Neptune and Uranus.
Plants will become visible at different times and in different colors;
Saturn will rise first. Visible in the late evening, the planet will take on a yellow hue. Neptune comes second, appearing near the constellation of Pisces, followed by Uranus. Jupiter and Mars will rise near the waning crescent moon. Mercury will rise last and just before dawn.
How do you know you’re seeing a planet and not a star?
Jupiter will be easy to recognize as it will be second only to the moon as the brightest luminary in the dark sky. The rest of the lineup is a bit dimmer and, thus, a touch harder to distinguish.
One key difference? Planets, unlike stars, do not twinkle.
While using your phone will, in some ways, detract from your dark sky viewing experience, using an astronomy app like Starwalk ensures you’re looking up and at the right targett.
When is the next planetary alignment?
After this week’s parade, the next alignment will be on January 18, 2025 when six planets; Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus will appear together in the night sky.
The following month, on February 28, 2025, SEVEN sowers; Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will be visible together.
Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and reports irreverently on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
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Image Source : nypost.com