Planet parade 2024: Viewing guide to the 6-planet alignment over Arizona on June 3

First came news of the devil comet, followed by a rare solar total eclipse, then the northern lights being visible over much of the U.S.

Get ready for the parade of planets: The next significant celestial phenomenon will come in early June, when skygazers can observe an alignment known as a planet parade or planetary alignment. On June 34, 2024, skywatchers can see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune appear to align in the sky.

While Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be seen with the naked eye during the parade of planets, Neptune and Uranus will require the aid of a telescope or high-powered binoculars. Seek out locations with minimal light pollution and clear views of the horizon for optimal viewing.

For more information about upcoming celestial events make sure to check out the celestial calendar.

Here's everything to know about the 2024 parade of planets.

What is a planet parade?

In a planetary parade, also known as a planetary alignment or conjunction, several planets appear to line up in a straight line or come close together in the sky from the perspective of Earth. This alignment is a visual phenomenon resulting from the relative positions and orbital paths of the planets around the sun.

There are different types of planetary parades, according to Star Walk:

• Full parade: All the planets visible to the naked eye — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — appear simultaneously. Rarely, this may include Uranus and Neptune if viewed with a telescope.

• Small parade: A smaller group of planets, typically three or more, align in a line or appear close together.

• Partial parade: Two or three planets aligning closely together.

When is the parade of planets?

You will be able to see the planet parade on Monday, June 3, 2024.

What time is the parade of planets?

To observe the planetary alignment on June 3, 2024, start looking at about 20 minutes before sunrise, as this is when all six planets will be most visible, according to Star Walk, an astronomy app.

What planets are in the planet parade?

The planet parade will feature six planets: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be observed with the naked eye. You'll need a telescope or high-powered binoculars to see Neptune and Uranus, according to Star Walk.

How rare is a planet parade?

The frequency of planetary alignments, or parades, depends on the specific type and number of planets involved. Here are the different alignments according to Star Walk:

• Two-planet alignments: These are quite common and can happen multiple times a year.

• Three-planet alignments: These are less frequent; they occur every few years.

• Five-planet alignments: These happen every 10 to 20 years. During these events, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn align.

• Six-planet alignments: On average, a six-planet alignment can occur roughly once every 20 years. The frequency depends on the orbital timing and position of each planet.

• Full planetary alignments: Involving all eight planets, these events are exceedingly rare. Such an alignment can take thousands of years to occur due to the vast differences in the orbital periods of the planets.

When was the last time 6 planets aligned?

According to starwalk.space, all the planets aligned during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Can you see the planet parade without a telescope?

You can see a planetary parade without a telescope if it involves the planets that are visible to the naked eye — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. During a planetary alignment, they can be seen as bright points of light in the sky and may appear in a line or close together.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Parade of planets 2024: How to see 6 planets align over Arizona