Stargazers شاهدوا "موكب الكواكب" صباح السبت.

This weekend, a planetary parade will light up the pre-dawn sky. Stargazers across the US will see Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn in a rare alignment. This time, unlike the previous 'parade' in June, the planets will be visible to the naked eye and won't be washed out by the sun's light.

The Details:

When: Saturday, before sunrise.
Where: Look towards the east or southeastern sky.
What: Jupiter, closest to the horizon, followed by Uranus, Mars, the moon, Neptune, and Saturn.
How: Binoculars or a telescope will enhance the experience, especially for spotting Neptune, which is difficult to see.

The Science:

This event is a large planetary alignment, a straight-line formation of planets marching across the night sky. It's a unique opportunity for backyard astronomers, though it's not as spectacular as a solar eclipse or the northern lights.

The Quotes:

"What worries me is that we set people up for disappointment. And then they won't want to do it again."
– Andrew Fazekas, communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders

The Excitement:

The recent solar eclipse and northern lights have sparked unprecedented interest in sky-watching, and this planetary parade adds to the excitement.

URLs:
Preston Dyches "What's Up": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxJdX9x6jyU

Skyview app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skyview-explore-the-universe/id569991498