Five Different Planets Will Align In The Greater Cleveland Night Sky During An Incredibly Rare Display
Celestial events, fortunately, often grace Greater Cleveland. In the past, the Northern Lights have been visible here, and in 2024 a total solar eclipse will be visible throughout Ohio. Fortunately, you’ll also get to see a unique planetary alignment in Cleveland this month. Stargazers throughout Greater Cleveland won’t want to miss this rare planetary phenomenon because, if they do, it won’t be visible again for nearly two decades. Keep an eye on the local weather, because you’ll want to find a clear night or early morning to sneak out and gaze at the stars.
June 2022 is going to be a magical month for stargazers in and around Cleveland.
In fact, it's going to be a notable month throughout much of the nation. You see, a unique event will be taking place in the night sky.
This month, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will appear in the night sky in planetary order... and you'll be able to see them with the naked eye.
Of course, this event will take place throughout the whole month, so you'll have plenty of time to catch the celestial show. You'll just get a little more bang for your buck later on in the month!
You'll have to act fast, too... Mercury will only be visible for a short time before the glare of the rising sun absorbs it.
However, switching from stargazing to watching the sunrise is a treat like no other. Since the first day of summer arrives this month, the weather just might be perfect for this experience!
The best time to catch this out-of-this-world phenomenon is about 30 minutes before sunrise, so keep an eye on the weather and sunrise time to find the perfect day for your stargazing experience.
Of course, Cleveland weather is prone to change at the drop of a dime, but keeping an eye on the report might help you find the perfect time to spend some time in the great outdoors.
June 24 is already promising to be magical, as the moon will align with the planetary phenomenon on that date.
It will be a waning crescent on June 24, appearing between Venus and Mars. Since the moon won't be full, its light should be dim enough to clearly see the planets.
While these planets do sometimes line up, this perfect planetary-order alignment hasn't occurred since December 2004... and it won't happen again until 2040.
Fortunately, this rare event spans nearly all of June! It would be a shame to miss it.
If you're concerned about light pollution in the city, you might consider swinging by Cuyahoga Valley National Park's 24/7 trails for an opportunity to admire the stars in the countryside.
There are several places in Cuyahoga Valley National Park that are open even at night. While many parks in the area close at dusk, several portions of the national park are open after hours. You might even be lucky enough to attend a ranger-led night hike!
You might even consider attending an event hosted by the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association.
The Cuyahoga Astronomical Association allows astronomy lovers to get an out-of-this-world experience! They have various public events that provide you an opportunity to gaze through a telescope or two. You might be particularly interested in swinging by the Solstice Steps on June 21... the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association should be there to celebrate the summer solstice with some telescopes! If you miss this, the observatory at Letha House Park West will be open to visitors on July 2.
Or you might take advantage of the wide-open skies of Ohio's Amish Country with a weekend getaway.
There are oodles of overnight options in Amish Country, including scenic B&Bs. The Barn Inn Bed & Breakfast is one of the more unique getaways in the area, and the countryside surrounding it is breathtaking.
You won’t want to miss this unique planetary alignment in Cleveland! Keep your eyes peeled all month long, because there will be a dose of pure magic hidden in the stars.
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is - she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
