If you miss this opportunity, you’ll have to wait until 2040.
.jpg)
The Moon shines brightly in the Chilean sky, accompanied by Mars and Mercury – Screenshot from National Geographic.
According to National Geographic, this extremely rare “celestial gathering” involves the presence of five easily visible planets: Mars, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Jupiter, along with two fainter planets: Saturn and Neptune.
During this event, Mars will shine the brightest, while Neptune will appear the faintest. Saturn and Neptune will be quite dim, so you’ll need a telescope to observe them.
The best viewing angles will be concentrated around tropical regions and the Southern Hemisphere, where the planets will rise higher in the early morning sky.
However, regardless of your location, it’s best to find an area with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon about 30 minutes to 1 hour before sunrise in your local time.
To locate the planets, viewers simply need to look at the Moon, which will serve as a guiding light. Starting from June 17, when the Moon is near Earth, it will act as a pointer.
The most interesting observation days are June 18, when the Moon is closest to Earth, and June 20, when the Moon pairs up with Neptune.
On June 21, viewers will witness the Moon combining with Mercury, and on June 22, there will be a meeting between the Moon and Mars.
By June 24, the Moon will pair up with Saturn. Keen sky watchers will also notice that it will appear precisely between Mars and Jupiter.
On June 26, the Moon will have a visually striking “encounter” with Jupiter, the brightest planet in the sky. Finally, the Moon will conclude its visit with Neptune on June 27.
The panoramic view will be especially impressive as the planets gather close to each other. And if you miss this spectacle, you’ll have to wait until 2040 to witness it again.