Mercury, Venus, Jupiter to form 5-night planet parade. When to look up
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Between June 11 and June 15, Mercury will join Venus and Jupiter in a rare celestial event called a "planet parade," where multiple planets appear aligned in the night sky along the ecliptic.
- Venus and Jupiter have been in conjunction since June 9, and Mercury’s arrival completes the trio, offering a unique opportunity to see three bright planets visible to the naked eye without telescopes.
- The best viewing for observers in the Northern Hemisphere is just after sunset looking west, with a clear horizon and minimal light pollution recommended to spot Mercury, which will appear low in the twilight glow.
- The moon will be in a waning crescent phase during this period, ensuring it will not outshine the planets, making the parade easier to observe.
- Planet parades are not official astronomical terms but describe planetary alignments that provide exciting viewing events for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts.