Every year, space lovers have the opportunity to observe many astronomical phenomena. In 2024, everyone can look at a dozen meteor showers with the naked eye – the most beautiful of them, the Perseids starfall, will begin in August. And amateur astronomers with telescopes have a chance to see with their own eyes the first supernova explosion in 80 years, but there is no exact date for this event, so this is a matter of chance. At the beginning of June, that is, very soon, another rare phenomenon awaits us, the big parade of planets of 2024. One day, five planets of the solar system will line up in the sky in a row. To see most of the “participants” in the parade, no special equipment is required. But to catch this event, you will have to get up very early.
In June 2024, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn will line up in one row in the sky. Image source: meteovesti.ru
Contents
- 1 What is a parade of planets
- 2 Big parade of planets 2024
- 3 How to see the planetary parade in 2024
- 4 Dates of the next planetary parades
- 5 Signs for the planetary parade
< h2>What is a parade of planets
Parade of planetsis an astronomical phenomenon during which several planets of the solar system line up in the sky. It arises only under certain conditions, when space objects find themselves in almost the same place, from the point of view of the inhabitants of the Earth. Consequently, the parade of planets can only be seen while on the surface of our planet – if viewed from other angles, the planets will not be lined up.
An example of a parade of planets indicating space objects. Image source: space.com
Parades of planets are divided into two types, depending on the number of astronomical objects that appear in one row. A Minor Planetary Parade is when four planets line up in a line, and this phenomenon occurs approximately every 20 years. A large parade of planets includes 5 or more objects, and this is an even rarer phenomenon.
Scientists also distinguish between visible and invisible parades of planets. In the first case, all the planets are visible, but in the second – not, because the planets are too close to the Sun and cannot be seen.
To better reinforce the topic:What is a parade of planets with from a scientific point of view?
Great parade of planets in 2024
In 2024, the parade of planets will be large and visible, that is, this is a doubly interesting event. It will happen on June 3rd, when six objects can be seen in the sky at once: Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn.
In the parade of 2024, six planets will be visible in the sky at once. Photo source: drive2.ru
How to see the parade of planets in 2024
During planetary alignments, astronomical objects are very close to each other with a spread of only 20-30 degrees. Thanks to this, if you find one planet in the sky, you can easily find others. The 2024 parade will be able to be seen by people from anywhere in the world. With the naked eye we will see Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn. And to see Uranus and Neptune, you will need powerful binoculars, or even better, at least an amateur telescope.
ATTENTION:If you want to see the 2024 planetary parade in all its glory, buy binoculars or a telescope in advance. Even binoculars for 1000 rubles are suitable for this. If you want to continue observing astronomical phenomena, buy a telescope – there is an excellent option for 12 thousand rubles. Delivery is fast, so the package should arrive on time.
The parade of planets is visible early in the morning, about an hour before dawn. At the beginning of June, dawn in Moscow is expected at 03:47 am, that is, the alignment of the planets should be observed at approximately half past two in the morning. Residents of other cities and towns should look at their local solar calendar or use an app like Sky Tonight. Using them, you can quickly find any space object in the sky and not make a mistake.
You need to watch the parade of planets an hour before dawn. Photo source: goodfon.ru
It goes without saying that it is better to watch the parade of planets outside the city. The fact is that numerous light sources such as lanterns and traffic lights create light pollution, which interferes with the observation of astronomical phenomena. However, regular readers of our site probably already know very well what light pollution is and why scientists don’t like it so much.
Dates of the next planetary parades
A complete parade of planets is a very rare event that no avid astronomy enthusiast will miss. But events when 3-4 planets line up in the sky occur much more often and are almost never talked about. For example, in 2024, a mini-parade of planets will occur on August 28. In 2025, you will be able to see small parades on January 18, February 28 and August 29.
Add the dates above to your calendar so you don't miss out. Photo source: mir24.tv
Read also:5 things that will help you become an amateur astronomer
Signs for the parade of planets
Some people believe that something bad happens during the parade of planets. It is believed that this astrological event somehow changes a person’s mood and well-being. Planetary parades are considered harbingers of global troubles, but all this, of course, is not true.
Science explains people's faith in astrology with the Barnum effect. Image source: jourcsu.ru
People believe in omens because the Barnum effect is triggered. This is the name given to the tendency of many people to see something personal in general and very general statements. For example, when a horoscope says a bad day for a certain zodiac sign and it actually turns out to be unlucky, people believe in the prediction. Although this day could have been bad for people with other zodiac signs, no one pays attention to this.
Will you watch the parade of planets? Write in the comments of our Zen channel or in the Telegram chat.
At the beginning of the article, we mentioned that in 2024 anyone will be able to look at the dazzling starfalls – here is their current schedule. And you can read more about the imminent supernova explosion in this material.