This June, skywatchers will have the opportunity to see five planets visible to the naked eye, arranged in their natural order with the Sun – from left to right as you scan the horizon. The five planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. A spectacular celestial show can be seen on the eastern horizon before the sun rises and obscures the view. People living in the northern hemisphere will have to look east and south. Those in the Southern Hemisphere should look east and north for delightful views.
It is very common to see two or three planets close together in a conjunction. However, observing the conjunction of five planets is extremely difficult. The last time an alignment of five planets was observed with the naked eye was in December 2004. However, this alignment will bring Mercury and Saturn much closer to each other.
While the arrangement is visible throughout the month, some dates are especially significant, reports Sky & Telescope .
June 3-4: These two mornings, Mercury and Saturn are at their smallest separation: only 91 degrees. Skywatchers will have less than half an hour from the time Mercury first appears above the horizon until it is essentially lost in the light of the rising Sun.
June 24: The planetary lineup will be even more dramatic this morning. Skygazers will have an hour to enjoy the parade. Although the separation of Mercury and Saturn will increase to 107 degrees, the real spectacle will be the waning crescent moon between Venus and Mars, as represented by Earth.
Astronomers say everyone should have plenty of opportunities to see these five planets, even if their area is cloudy on certain days of the month. So be sure to wake up early and head to a location with an unobstructed view of the horizon.
