The event began in early June and has continued to get clearer and easier to see as the month progresses, according to Diana Henekainen, monitoring editor at Sky & Telescope.
A waning crescent moon will join the party between Venus and Mars on Friday, adding another celestial body to the lineup. The Moon will represent the Earth’s relative position in the alignment, meaning this is where our planet will appear in the order of the planets.
Henekainen said stargazers would need a clear view of the eastern horizon to spot this incredible phenomenon. She added that humans can see the display of planets with the naked eye, but binoculars are recommended for a great viewing experience.
Some stargazers are particularly excited about the celestial event, including Hanekainen. She traveled from her home west of Boston to a seaside town along the Atlantic Ocean to ensure a perfect view of the alignment.
“I’ll be there with my binoculars, looking east and southeast and cutting off all my fingers and toes until it’s clear,” Hanekainen said.
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You don’t have to travel to see the event because it will be visible to people all over the world.
Stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere can see planets from the eastern horizon to the southeast horizon, while those in the Southern Hemisphere should look along the eastern horizon to the northeast horizon. The only requirement is a clear sky in the direction of the alignment.
The next day, the moon will have continued its orbit around Earth, misaligning it with the planets, she said.
If you miss the alignment of the five planets in sequential order, the next one will occur in 2040, according to Sky & Telescope.
- June 14: Strawberry Moon
- July 13: Pak Mun
- August 11: Sturgeon Moon
- September 10: Harvest Moon
- October 9: Hunter’s Moon
- November 8: Beaver Moon
- December 7: Cold Moon
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Eclipse lunar e solar
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A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun but blocks only part of its light. Be sure to wear the appropriate eclipse glasses to view the solar eclipse safely, as sunlight can damage your eyes.
A partial solar eclipse on October 25 will be visible to those in Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Northeast Africa, the Middle East, West Asia, India and West China. None of the partial solar eclipses will be visible from North America.
A total lunar eclipse will also be visible to those in Asia, Australia, Pacific, South America and North America on November 8 between 3:01 am ET and 8:58 am ET – but the moon will be absent for those in the eastern regions of North America.
meteor showers
- Southern Delta Constellation: July 29-30
- Capricorn Alpha: July 30th to July 31st
- Perseids: August 11-12
- Orionids: October 20-21
- South Torres: November 4-5
- North Towers: November 11th to 12th
- Leonidas: November 17-18
- Geminis: December 13th to December 14th
- Ursids: December 21st to December 22nd
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If you live in an urban area, you can drive somewhere where the city lights aren’t scattered around to get the best view.
Look for an open area with a wide view of the sky. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look straight. Give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes – without looking at your phone or other electronic devices – to adjust to the darkness so meteors are easier to spot.
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