On Sunday, June 3, a celestial event known as a "planet parade" will be visible in the predawn skies over the United States. Six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will align in a diagonal formation. This alignment will be best viewed from the U.S. East Coast, about half an hour before sunrise.
Of the six planets, only Mars and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. Mercury and Jupiter will be too close to the horizon and too faint against the brightening sky. Uranus and Neptune will require telescopes for observation, with Uranus being barely visible even under optimal conditions in rural, non-light-polluted areas.
The alignment forms due to the planets' orbits placing them on the same side of the Sun as viewed from Earth. Although the event creates a striking visual, it does not signify a physical alignment in space. Similar alignments occur approximately every few years. For those aiming to view the lineup, using tools like the online application Stellarium or the mobile app Sky Tonight can assist in pinpointing the planets' locations.
This specific planetary parade will occur globally but is best seen from Europe and North America. The alignment, comprising Saturn, Neptune, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, and Jupiter from top to bottom, will last for several days, with variations expected in August and early 2025. For safety, observers are cautioned not to look directly at the Sun while scanning for planets.
Among those providing insights into the event include Joe Rao, a broadcast meteorologist, and Dr. James O’Donoghue, a planetary astronomer at the University of Reading. They recommend using binoculars or telescopes and finding low-light, clear-sky conditions for the best viewing experience. Dr. Kate Pattle from University College London also highlighted the importance of understanding that these alignments are visual phenomena rather than physical occurrences in space.