According to AccuWeather, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have lined up in a unique alignment that won’t happen again until 2040.
The alignment of five planets simultaneously, which last occurred in 1864 and won’t happen again for over 20 years, is an uncommon sight, however it is typical to see a few planets together at any given moment.
The alignment will stay in place until the end of June and is best seen in the early morning, around an hour before sunrise.
Because June has the earlier sunrises of the year, the best time to see the alignment is before 5 a.m. in the eastern sky.
The alignment can be seen without a telescope, but some of the planets may be difficult to see with the unaided eye, such as Mercury, which is less apparent due to its close proximity to the sun and may be more difficult to see due to its lower horizon location.
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be the easiest planets to see because they were higher in the sky and won’t be obscured by obstructions like trees and buildings, according to AccuWeather.
Binoculars, a telescope, and sky maps will be able to see the other two planets in the solar system while Uranus and Neptune will be invisible to the unaided eye.
The fading crescent moon will be between Mars and Venus on the mornings of Thursday through Saturday, June 23–25, according to Space.com, making it simpler to see the planets even for those who are not experts in astronomy.
When July arrives, Mercury will no longer be visible in the early sky, but the other planets will remain for the beginning of the month and will grow farther apart as the month goes on.
By Ariella Marsden, rephrased by InfoArmed