Five Different Planets Will Align In The Oregon Night Sky During An Incredibly Rare Display
Oregon is home to some of the best stargazing in the country, with places like Crater Lake and Prineville Reservoir State Park earning national acclaim for their dark and star-filled skies. But this month, there’s a celestial show happening above the skies of the Beaver State, and it’s a rare event that can be seen without any special stargazing equipment — just your eyes and perhaps a pair of binoculars! Don’t miss the planet parade this June, a rare occurrence where five different planets will align in their proper orbital order over the skies of Oregon.
Oregon has long been lauded for its stellar stargazing, with Crater Lake boasting some of the darkest skies in the PNW and lauded as one of the top places for stargazing in the country.
During this incredibly rare event, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will line up in perfect formation in their proper orbital order from the sun, known as the ecliptic.
This unique event began on June 3, but it will take place in the early morning hours throughout the entire month. If you are having a difficult time seeing the planet parade now, be patient. This impressive event will become easier to view as the month progresses.
Visible without a telescope, the planets will appear almost within striking distance of one another, though they won't be nearly as close as they appear; each of these worlds is actually millions of miles away from the others. The best time to view the five planets is in the 30 minutes before sunrise.
Peaking in the predawn hours of June 24, you'll want to set your alarm early for a dazzling show. On this date, Mercury will rise an hour before the sun and a crescent moon will add extra sparkle... so mark your calendars!
While visible all across the skies of the country, finding more secluded areas with low light pollution will help novice astronomers spot the phenomenon, so do some research and pick your stargazing spot now! In addition to Crater Lake, Prineville Reservoir State Park is another stellar spot for stargazing -- it's the first Oregon State Park to earn Dark Sky status!
As a collective group, it's not that often we gaze up into the skies; most of us are instead focused on the immediate here and now, or, all too often, our screens. This month, however, we're urging you to look up.
