Will There Really Be a 'Parade of Planets' Over IN & KY?

Will you really be able to see a "Parade of Planets" in the sky on June 3, 2024?

2 Eyes - 5 Planets

Of all the planets in the solar system, there are five of them that you can see with nothing more than your naked eye. Some media outlets are touting a rare Parade of Planets on June 3rd where Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn will align in the early morning hours before the sun breaks the horizon at dawn.

NASA Says This May Not Be the Case

If you are like me and you get excited about things like sunsets, stars in the night sky, or full moons, you might also be excited to learn that you will be able to see six different planets when you look at the sky in the early morning hours on Monday. However, NASA says that simply isn't the case.

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What Will We See on June 3, 2024

According to NASA, only two of those six planets will actually be visible on June 3, 2024 - Mars and Saturn.

Some online sources have shared excitement about a "parade of planets" visible in the morning sky in early June (June 3 in particular). In reality, only two of the six planets supposedly on display (Saturn and Mars) will actually be visible. In early June, Jupiter and Mercury will be at or below the horizon in morning twilight and not visible; Uranus and Neptune are far too faint to see without a telescope, especially as the morning sky brightens.

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Still Want to See a Parade of Planets?

While we won't be seeing six planets across the morning sky on June 3, 2024, NASA says that we may still be able to see a celestial lineup on June 29, 2024. They say it's on this day that we will see "the closest thing to a planet parade" with the moon, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter in alignment in the early morning sky.

Which Planets Can We See In June 2024

Saturn

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Mars

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Jupiter

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

The Moon

Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash

If you enjoy the night sky, keep scrolling to see some incredible photographs captured by NASA.

[Source: NASA]

LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library

In 2017, NASA opened the digital doors to its image and video library website, allowing the public to access more than 140,000 images, videos, and audio files. The collection provides unprecedented views of space. Stacker reviewed the collection to select 31 of the most breathtaking images, including the first from the James Webb Space Telescope. Keep reading to see these stunning images, curated with further information about the captured scenes.

Gallery Credit: Deborah Brosseau