Five Different Planets Will Align In The Florida Night Sky During An Incredibly Rare Display
There are quite a few reasons every year to get outside after the sun sets and appreciate the night sky. In Florida, as long as you know the right time to look and the right place to be, you’ll be in luck with a real celestial showcasing. This year, starting June 3rd and happening every night until the end of the month, sky enthusiasts will be treated to what’s being dubbed a “planet parade.” All five naked-eye planets will be up in the pre-dawn sky in their orbital order. How cool is that?!
It doesn’t just happen every day where you can look up in the pre-dawn sky in Florida and catch all five orbital planets aligned in order in full view.
However, starting June 3rd and running throughout the rest of the month, sky enthusiasts can catch Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn arranged in their natural order from the sun.
While Mercury might be the toughest to spot at the beginning of the month (binoculars are recommended) it will become easier as June rolls on.
The last time all five naked-eye planets were in alignment in the sequence was in December 2004, and this time around it’s expected to be the best showing yet.
Make sure to find a pre-dawn spot to settle in for the show. You’ll want a clear view low toward the east so that you can spot Mercury easily.
You’ll likely only have a window of about half an hour or less from when Mercury appears to when it becomes lost in the sun’s glare in the early days of June.
However, June 24th will bring about an even more prominent planetary parade, allowing for at least an hour for Mercury viewings.
Just make sure to set your alarm clocks for some pre-dawn fun and enjoy this celestial showing all June long.
So, what do you think about this celestial event in Florida? Will you participate and grab a front-row seat to the show? Let us know in the comments section! Or if you have the perfect place to catch it all, make sure to shout that out, too. We’re quite partial to seeing the night sky from Kissimmee Prairie Preserve.
Florida In Your Inbox
Thank you! You will receive your first email soon.
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
