ORLANDO, Fla. – Skywatchers, get ready for a planetary parade, a spectacular event where the planets align in the sky.
The next one is set for June 3, and if you’re in the right location, you could witness up to six planets.
Why do planets align? Well, as time goes on, planets orbit the sun. Eventually, they catch up to each other. When they pass, it looks like they’re lining up from Earth because they’re all on the same path — the ecliptic — but this lineup doesn’t stick around for long because each planet moves at its own speed, based on its distance from the sun.
With the naked eye, keen observers can spot Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn. Those equipped with high-powered binoculars or telescopes may also catch a glimpse of Uranus, near Mercury, Neptune and close to Saturn.
This marks the second planetary parade of the year, following the one during the 2024 solar eclipse. Those in the path of totality could see Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Mars during the eclipse, although spotting Mars and Saturn might have been a bit trickier.
Different parts of the eastern seaboard will catch glimpses of the parade at different times.
Looking east, Florida can expect Saturn, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter to be visible just before sunrise around 6 a.m.
Venus will be present too, but it’ll be too close to the sun to be visible. This six-planet spectacle will grace the morning sky for about a week.
Eventually, Mercury will edge too close to the sun to be seen and the other planets will become too distant to spot easily. However, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will remain visible in the early morning sky for weeks to come.
The same planetary alignment will occur again on Aug. 28.
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