On the morning of Saturday, April 23, you’ll be able to easily spot the alignment low in the sky.
While the calendar month of June will bring a uncommon credit line of five visible planet in the morning sky , you could catch a likewise incredible spectacle as we establish up to that . That ’s becauseJupiterjoinedVenus , Mars , andSaturnin mid - April , creating a grouping of four planets hanging out in the morning sky . betimes on the dawn ofSaturday , April 23 , however , the moonshine will get together the party — making it a can’t - miss stargazing even this weekend .
How to see the planetary alignment on April 23
Look to the east - southeastward before break of day on April 23 to see Jupiter sitting just above the horizon . Higher in the sky and to its rightfield , you ’ll spy Venus . Those are the two brightest planets in the sky . They ’re connect by Mars and Saturn climb up and to the south . The moon will shine just to the right of that shaping .
If you ’ve got a readable view of the sensible horizon — unobstructed by building or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or mountains — then you ’ll have no problem spotting it . Of course , you ’ll also need to have clear skies , so be sure to control your local forecast before you specify your alarum for the pre - dawn hour . Because we ’re speak about planets and our own moon , you wo n’t need a telescope or field glasses to enjoy the alignment , though you could certainly break out your equipment for close smell at the individual planets .
To be clear , the planet are n’t really in a close line and sit down one thousand thousand of miles apart from each other — it merely depend that way from our vantage detail on Earth . Still , it ’s a beautiful display . And , though it ’s not really part of any formation , you ’ll also find the bright whiz Altair and Deneb high above the planets , as well as Antares off to the right and high in the sky ( you could see the positioning of those superstar in the image from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory above ) .
shutterstock/Robert P Horton
What about the Lyrid meteor shower?
It just so happens that the first major meteor shower of spring — the Lyrid shooting star exhibitioner — peaks on the night of Friday , April 22 . you may point out around after midnight and pick out about 10 - 15 meteor per hour if you ’re lucky enough to have clear weather condition in your area . Just note that the windowpane for see these meteors will belike be limit by a tight - to - full moonshine , be certain to get out there shortly after midnight before the lunar light defilement seeps into the video . By the clock time the moon is up , you in all probability wo n’t see many meteors , but you ’ll have the gorgeous coalition to enjoy .
What if you miss Saturday break of day ’s show ? Well , they might not be line up quite as perfectly in the twenty-four hour period after , but those satellite will still be hang out as we move toward a close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on April 30 . Then in June , you ’ll see Mercury fall in the quartet scummy toward the purview . It ’ll be a tantalizing trailer of what ’s to come .
Image via NASA JPL YouTube
