For astronomy enthusiasts, this weekend will be special as a rare event will take place. Five planets are about to align in a rare planetary parade.

Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn will be visible an hour before sunrise on June 17 as they line up near the eastern horizon. Three of the brightest planets – Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn – will be visible to the naked eye.

Planetary processions, or alignments, occur when a number of planets are in the same constellation. This planetary alignment is quite unusual as it is expected to occur again in April 2024.

It will occur in a 93-degree sector, meaning the planets will appear closer together in a small area of ​​the sky.

During the alignment, Jupiter will be in the constellation of Aries, while Mercury will be in the constellation of Taurus. However, the observation point chosen is important. NASA recommends looking for a cloud-free area. A necessary condition is that the point ensures an unobstructed view of the horizon, avoiding buildings and any city lights.

With the help of equipment such as binoculars and a telescope, even distant planets such as Neptune and Uranus will be visible. Experts point out, however, that to distinguish between stars and planets, observers will have to look for non-shining objects among the twinkling stars.