Current:Home > ScamsHow to watch a rare 5-planet alignment this weekend -WealthSphere Pro
How to watch a rare 5-planet alignment this weekend
View
Date:2025-04-25 00:46:38
Five planets will align on June 17 in a rare astronomical event. The planetary alignment will include Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus and Mercury.
The planets will rise slowly throughout the night, with different planets visible at different times, according to the astronomy guide app Star Walk.
Here's how to see the planets.
What is a planetary alignment?
A planetary alignment actually has two definitions, according to Star Walk. When planets gather on one side of the sun at the same time, that's a planetary alignment. The term can also apply when planets appear close together, as seen from Earth, in a small section of the sky.
The planets will form a line, but not necessarily a straight one, because planets operate on different elliptical orbits. From some angles, they may appear to be in a straight line.
When is the June 2023 planetary alignment?
The alignment will be best visible on the night of June 16 until the morning of June 17. The best time to see all five planets in the sky will be an hour before sunrise, Star Walk said.
The alignment may be visible for a few days before and after the 16th, depending on where you are in the world.
The alignment will start with Saturn, which will rise in the middle of the night near the constellation Aquarius. Neptune will be next, followed by Jupiter appearing in the Aries constellation. Uranus will appear after that, near Jupiter but a few degrees lower. The final planet to rise will be Mercury, which will be low on the horizon and visible an hour before sunrise.
What's the best way to watch the five planets align?
Three of the planets — Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn — will be bright and visible with the naked eye. However, the remaining two planets, Neptune and Uranus, will require at least a pair of binoculars, according to Star Walk.
It can also help to download an app that explores the night sky and can provide direction about where to look for the alignment.
When you're watching the skies, make sure you know what to look at: According to Star Walk, stars will twinkle, but planets won't. Jupiter will be the brightest object in the sky until the sun rises, but the other planets will be fainter, so it will be harder to tell them apart from stars.
Will there be more planetary alignments in 2023?
There was already one five-planet alignment this year, in March. Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars appeared in the night sky after sunset late in the month. The best day to see the event was March 28.
There will be another alignment later in the summer, according to Star Walk. That alignment will take place in July and be best visible on July 22. It will feature just three planets, with Mars, Venus and Mercury appearing in the evening sky.
The next planetary alignment with five or more planets won't be until April 2024, according to Star Walk.
- In:
- Mercury
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Earth
- Uranus
- News From Space
- Neptune
- Space
Kerry Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current events, breaking news and substance use.
veryGood! (54192)
Related
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- MGM Casino Denies Claims Bruno Mars Owes $50 Million Gambling Debt
- The Best Plus Size Swimwear That'll Make You Feel Cute & Confident
- Will Messi play with Argentina? No. Hamstring injury keeps star from Philly, LA fans
- 'Most Whopper
- Discrimination lawsuit brought by transgender athlete sent back to Minnesota trial court
- Trump is making the Jan. 6 attack a cornerstone of his bid for the White House
- 'American Idol': Past contestant Alyssa Raghu hijacks best friend's audition to snag a golden ticket
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Too much Atlantic in Atlantic City: Beach erosion has casinos desperately seeking sand by summer
Ranking
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Lisa Vanderpump Breaks Silence on Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's Breakup
- Why Rachel Nance Says She Walked Away From The Bachelor a True Winner
- Sports Illustrated gets new life, publishing deal takes effect immediately
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Petrochemicals Are Killing Us, a New Report Warns in the New England Journal of Medicine
- DAY6 returns with 'Fourever': The album reflects who the band is 'at this moment'
- Caitlyn Jenner and Lamar Odom Reuniting for New Podcast
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
The April 8 solar eclipse could impact power. Here's why.
Supreme Court extends block on Texas law that would allow police to arrest migrants
Wayne Simmonds retires: Former Flyers star was NHL All-Star Game MVP
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
Love Is Blind's Chelsea and Jimmy Reunite Again in Playful Video
New York to probe sputtering legal marijuana program as storefronts lag, black market booms
Men’s March Madness bracket recap: Full NCAA bracket, schedule, more