Five Different Planets Will Align In The Nevada Night Sky During An Incredibly Rare Display
Turn your gaze to Nevada’s night sky this month for a spectacular show featuring not one, but five, planets that will be visible to the naked eye! Look for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn as they travel across the celestial sky in their natural order in our solar system. This is sure to be a delightful cosmic treat for anyone looking for a view that comes around only once in a very long time!
The incredible space event begins in early June as the parade of planets becomes visible to stargazers. For a short period of time in the early morning, folks in a location with clear skies will catch the first glimpses of Mercury.
Binoculars can help you see the smallest planet in our solar system. Face the east for the best chance to see Mercury as it appears above the horizon. Wake up early and stay vigilant as you may only have thirty minutes or less to catch sight of Mercury. As it rises, the sun’s glare will soon make it harder to see the small planet.
Leave the telescope behind as you’ll be able to see the five planets as they make their way throughout the month over our night sky, visible without special equipment!
See Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn as they climb the night sky higher and higher throughout the entire month of June!
Starting on June 3rd, the planet Mercury becomes visible over the early morning horizon. Here’s a tip – head to a place that has the least amount of light pollution for the best chances of seeing the planets clearly. Nevada's many low or unpopulated areas offer incredible chances to see this event.
Nevada is a stargazer's playground! Some of the best places to view the remarkable night sky in the state (and the world!) are Squaw Creek Reservoir, Massacre Rim, High Rock Canyon, Diamondfield Gulch, and the Basin and Range National Monument among many others. Another option is the popular Park to Park in the Dark.
By June 24th, space enthusiasts are in for a real show! Mercury leads the way, rising up above the horizon in the early morning. It will be followed by Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Watch as the planets climb from the east to higher in the south.
Get ready for a show-stopper month this June as, for the first time since December 2004, five planets begin to line up and become easier to see to the naked eye as June days wear on. Grab a hot cup of coffee and a blanket and set your alarm early for this fantastical event that you won’t want to miss!
