See A Rare Alignment Of All The Planets In The Night Sky

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The more distant Uranus and Neptune will also cluster in the same area, though the two ice giants will be more challenging to spot, requiring the use of binoculars. Scan between Venus and Mars to find green-tinged Uranus, and blue Neptune can be found between Jupiter and Saturn in the sky.

Illustration of the horizon with locations of Mercury, Venus, Uranus, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, and Saturn.
Illustration of the horizon with locations of Mercury, Venus, Uranus, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, and Saturn on June 24, 2022.Illustration by Andrew Fazekas

This planetary alignment can be glimpsed by the vast majority of the world’s population, but some will be better positioned than others. For those in the northern latitudes, above cities like New York and London, the planet closest to the sun, Mercury, will be near the horizon and may be washed out by the glare of dawn. In these regions, the other planets will also hug the eastern horizon, making it a bit of a challenge to easily see all the planets.

As the month progresses, however, Mercury will appear higher in the sky, making it easier to spot. For observers even farther north, like those across Scandinavia and in northern Alaska where the sun never sets at this time of the year, the planets won’t be visible at all.

Illustration of the solar system showing the position of planets during this celestial event.
Illustration of the solar system showing the positions of the planets during the conjunction of June 2022. Illustration by Andrew Fazekas

The best views will be centered around the tropics and in the Southern Hemisphere, where the planets will rise higher in the predawn sky. But no matter where you are, the best recommendation is to seek out an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon about one hour to 30 minutes before local sunrise.

The panorama will be particularly impressive because the planets will appear huddled close together. And if you miss this spectacle, you’ll have to wait until 2040 to get another chance.

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