A Rare Planetary Alignment Is About to Happen

[Manuel Tavares]

A Rare Planetary Alignment Is About to Happen

Here's How You Can See It

By PETER DOCKRILL

https://rayviolet.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-rare-planetary-alignment-i...

Seeing the planets of the Solar System aligned in a neat line is one of many awe-inspiring stargazing experiences we can get – and this month you could have a chance to see it with your own eyes.

From the middle of the month, when viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, you'll be able to see Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter all lined up in an almost-perfect planetary alignment in the pre-dawn sky.

The alignment starts to form from around April 17, but will be at its most viewable on the morning of April 20. To see the alignment from the US, you'll need to get up before sunrise on the morning of April 20, and look towards the east.

The April 20 alignment. (Stellarium)

There, on the horizon, provided viewing conditions are good, you should be able to make out all four planets aligned in a celestial row, although as some have pointed out, Jupiter's proximity to the horizon could make it a bit harder to make out.

As keen stargazers likely already know, Saturn, Mars, and Venus have actually been clustering together since late March, but it won't be until mid-April that Jupiter will join the party.

A few days later – on around April 23 – the alignment is set to become even more spectacular, with the Moon lining up to join the party on the right....>>>https://rayviolet.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-rare-planetary-alignment-i...