On Friday, rare planetary conjunction will cause five major planets in our solar system to glow brilliantly in a succession.
If the sky is clear, it will be possible to view Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn shining before dawn with the naked eye alone.
It is a rare opportunity to glimpse Mercury, which is typically covered by the Sun’s brilliant light.
The conjunction is best viewed on Friday but will be visible from the majority of the world until Monday.
This combination has not occurred since 2004, and it will not occur again until 2040.
Professor Lucie Green, a space scientist and the Society for Popular Astronomy’s principal stargazer add that the planets will appear “like a necklace of pearls extending from near to the horizon.”
It is also a unique occurrence since the planets will appear in the order in which they orbit the sun.
Prof. Green explains that this is not always the case for planetary conjunctions due to our perspective from Earth peering into the solar system.
Friday will also see the addition of a crescent Moon between Venus and Mars.
The optimum viewing time for the northern hemisphere, including the United Kingdom, is between 45 and 90 minutes before sunrise. Ideally, from a high vantage point, such as a hill, observe the eastern horizon closely. Large structures and trees obstruct the view. You will need to rise early since as soon as the sun rises, it will obscure the planets in the sky.
Prof. Green warns sky-gazers not to utilize equipment such as binoculars or telescopes due to the risk of staring directly into the Sun.
Start by searching for Saturn, the most distant planet. Then count backward until you reach Venus, which is typically fairly bright.
Mercury should then be the last planet in the order. Prof. Green states that it took her several years to discover the planet since it is difficult to locate. “It is quite satisfying if you can spot this faint planet,” she explains.
Observers in the tropics and southern hemisphere should have better views, as the planets will rise higher in the predawn sky, although an early start is still required.
