Stargazers will have a rare opportunity this week to witness a planetary hangout as five planets align near the moon. The five planets – Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars – can be seen from anywhere on Earth on Tuesday, as long as the skies are clear and there is a view of the west. Jupiter, Venus, and Mars will be visible without binoculars since they shine brightly, while Mercury and Uranus may be harder to spot since they will be dimmer. This kind of alignment happens when the planets’ orbits line up on one side of the sun from Earth’s perspective. The last five-planet lineup was last summer, and there will be another one in June with a slightly different makeup. The five-planet lineup is a must-see event for space enthusiasts and stargazers.
Planetary Parade: 5 Planets to Line Up in Night Sky This Week
This week, stargazers will have a rare opportunity to witness a planetary hangout as five planets – Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars – will align near the moon. The best day to see the entire group is on Tuesday, when they will be visible from the western horizon right after sunset.
According to NASA astronomer Bill Cooke, the five-planet lineup can be seen from anywhere on Earth as long as the skies are clear and there is a view of the west. Mercury and Jupiter, however, will quickly dip below the horizon about half an hour after sunset.
Jupiter, Venus, and Mars will be visible without binoculars since they shine brightly. Venus, in particular, will be one of the brightest objects in the sky, while Mars will appear with a reddish glow near the moon. On the other hand, Mercury and Uranus may be harder to spot since they will be dimmer. For a chance to see Uranus, which is usually not visible, look out for its green glow just above Venus.
This kind of alignment happens when the planets’ orbits line up on one side of the sun from Earth’s perspective. While different numbers and groups of planets line up in the sky from time to time, this five-planet lineup is a rare chance for planet collectors to witness the event. The last five-planet lineup was last summer, and there will be another one in June with a slightly different makeup.
In conclusion, the five-planet lineup is a must-see event for space enthusiasts and stargazers. The stunning celestial display will be visible without any special equipment, although binoculars may be required to see Mercury and Uranus. So don’t miss the chance to witness this rare event and keep an eye on the sky this week.
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