Celestial enthusiasts, mark your calendars for June 3, when a spectacular planetary parade will grace the night sky. This celestial event occurs when planets align in the sky, offering a mesmerizing view for those in the right part of the world. On this night, viewers may be able to see up to six planets.
Eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn with the naked eye. For those with high-powered binoculars or telescopes, Uranus (near Mercury) and Neptune (near Saturn) will also be visible.
Timing and viewing locations
This is the second planetary parade of the year. The previous event coincided with the 2024 solar eclipse, where viewers in the path of totality could see Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and Mars during the eclipse, though Mars and Saturn were more challenging to spot.
For American skywatchers, the best vantage point will be in New York state on the morning of June 3 between 5 a.m. ET and just before sunrise at 5:26 a.m. This narrow window requires early risers, especially those setting up telescopes to view all six planets.
Regional viewing times
Various parts of the eastern seaboard will witness parts of the parade at different times:
- Florida: Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter just before sunrise around 6 a.m.
- Ohio: The same quartet around 5:40 a.m.
If you’re in another part of the country, you may only see a couple of planets. For exact viewing times in your area, use Stellarium’s website or the Sky Tonight app (available on iOS and Android). These tools allow you to input your location, adjust the time between June 3 and June 7, and see where the planets will be.
Global viewing opportunities
The planetary parade will be visible in other regions for a few days. For instance, Sydney, Australia, will see it as early as May 28, while Tokyo and Athens will view it on June 2. Star Walk has identified several other regions with optimal viewing dates:
- São Paulo: May 27
- Sydney: May 28
- Mexico: May 29
- Abu Dhabi: May 30
- Hong Kong: May 30
- Athens and Tokyo: June 2
- New York: June 3
Special equipment and viewing tips
For those in ideal locations, four planets (Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Mercury) will be visible to the naked eye. To see Neptune and Uranus, high-powered binoculars or a telescope are necessary due to their distance and the sky’s brightness just before dawn.
Even if your area doesn’t offer a full view of the parade, spotting three or four planets is still a remarkable experience. However, cloudy weather and city lights can interfere with visibility.
Understanding planetary parades and alignments
A planetary parade is when planets line up visually in the night sky, a common event also referred to as a planetary alignment. Definitions vary, but generally, three planets make a mini alignment, four a small alignment, and five to seven a large alignment. The upcoming parade is a visual alignment, not a literal orbital alignment, which is much rarer.
The next literal orbital alignment won’t happen until May 6, 2492, while the upcoming event is similar to the Venus, Mars, and Saturn conjunction seen in April 2022.
Future planetary parades
While smaller parades happen frequently, those with five or more planets are rare. Notable upcoming dates for such events include:
- June 3, 2024
- August 28, 2024
- January 18, 2025
- February 28, 2025
- August 29, 2025
The February 28, 2025, parade is particularly notable as all seven other planets in our solar system will be visible simultaneously, though some will require a telescope. Get your telescopes and binoculars ready and enjoy the celestial spectacle of the planetary parade on June 3!
