(Viewed 770 times)

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

There will be "NO" Parade of Planets
June 2024

Once again, there is the nonsense going around the internet about the glorious spectacle of viewing a line of planets in the sky in early June.

Ignore the hype.

For months now, notices and needless wrong information has been promoted by many, (even some news outlets), about this "rare" event to observe.

As this diagram shows, anything to the left of the arrow line will be lost in the glare of the early pre-dawn Sun glow....

Lost in the glare will be: Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus. So let's eliminate those....leaving only Mars, Saturn and the crescent Moon to enjoy.  (Neptune is a telescopic object and even then, a small bluish dot - that includes Uranus as well.)

Simple orbital mechanics explains the positions of the planets and no, it is not a mystical supernatural event.  These "Alignments" occur quite often and make for nice gatherings to enjoy.

Get up early enough and you will see a nice conjunction of the Moon and Mars...with Saturn to the far right/west.  But this is hardly a "Parade of Planets".




So, ignore this...



and this...



It ain't gonna happen.

The Universe is fascinating on it's own without the misleading and erroneous hype, which often leads to disappointment and frustration for sky lovers.

The Chicago Astronomer will always give it straight.

Astro Joe 

[Centaur]

May 29, 2024 16:55:55 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

There will be "NO" Parade of Planets
June 2024

Once again, there is the nonsense going around the internet about the glorious spectacle of viewing a line of planets in the sky in early June.

Ignore the hype.

For months now, notices and needless wrong information has been promoted by many, (even some news outlets), about this "rare" event to observe.

As this diagram shows, anything to the left of the arrow line will be lost in the glare of the early pre-dawn Sun glow....

Lost in the glare will be: Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus. So let's eliminate those....leaving only Mars, Saturn and the crescent Moon to enjoy.  (Neptune is a telescopic object and even then, a small bluish dot - that includes Uranus as well.)

Simple orbital mechanics explains the positions of the planets and no, it is not a mystical supernatural event.  These "Alignments" occur quite often and make for nice gatherings to enjoy.

Get up early enough and you will see a nice conjunction of the Moon and Mars...with Saturn to the far right/west.  But this is hardly a "Parade of Planets".




So, ignore this...



and this...



It ain't gonna happen.

The Universe is fascinating on it's own without the misleading and erroneous hype, which often leads to disappointment and frustration for sky lovers.

The Chicago Astronomer will always give it straight.

Astro Joe 

Indeed, Joe, the internet era has inspired even science journalists to lead with hyperbolic clickbait headlines. Then the copycats join the parade. Fact checking is a thing of the past. Pathetic.