Why is it in the News?

Next month, on June 3, there will be a planetary alignment that may actually allow you to witness six planets align in the sky.

What is a Planetary Alignment?

• Planetary alignment is a term used to describe the positioning of planets in the solar system such that they appear to be in a straight line or close to one when viewed from a specific vantage point, for us that's Earth.
• It is an astronomical event that happens when, by coincidence, the orbits of several of the planets of the Solar System bring them to roughly the same side of the Sun at the same time.
• This phenomenon is more an illusion of perspective rather than the planets being in a perfect line in space.
• It’s important to emphasise that the planets aren’t forming a straight line in space – that’s a much rarer astronomical event called a syzygy.
  • However, because all the planets, including the Earth, orbit around the Sun in roughly the same orientation (moving in which we call the “Plane of the Ecliptic”), when they’re on the same side of the Sun as each other, they appear to form a line in the sky when we view them from Earth.”
• Planetary alignments are rather common within themselves, especially when two, three, or even four planets align in the sky.
  • Five or more planets aligning, however, is less common.
• April 8, 2024, was the last time the planets were all in alignment.

Which planets will align?

• Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will form a near-straight line, offering an extraordinary opportunity to witness this cosmic phenomenon.

Which planets will be visible?

• While six planets align, not all of them will be visible to the naked eye, due to their vast distance from Earth.
• Meanwhile, the Moon will also play a spoilsport as it distorts the visibility.
• Mercury and Jupiter will be tricky to see in the sky due to their proximity to the Sun in their orbit.
• However, Mars and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, though very dim.
• Meanwhile, keen observers will need telescopes or high-powered binoculars to spot the distant planets Uranus and Neptune.