6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (2024)

If an evening spent stargazing is your cup of tea, then you'll definitely want to know about the next astrological event in 2024 – the August planetary alignment.

Jump to:

  • What does a planetary alignment mean?
  • When is the next planetary alignment?
  • How often does a planetary alignment happen?
  • How do you see a planetary alignment?

This rare phenomenon means you'll be able to see six (yes, six) planets align in the sky.

Here's everything to know about the rare planetary alignment taking place very soon...

What does a planetary alignment mean?

"Often referred to as a "planet parade", this cosmic phenomenon involves the alignment of three to eight planets," explains the astronomy app, Star Walk.

This is due to an astronomical event whereby planets gather closely on one side of the Sun, creating a phenomenon in which multiple planets can be seen at the same time from the Earth.

Whilst the planets may appear to be in a single line, they won't actually be in orbital alignment. However, the closer they get, the more spectacular the scene.

Star Walk add: "When the Earth is one of the planets gathered on one side of the Sun, it appears to the observer that several planets are aligned in the sky. The smaller the sector in which the planets are seen, the more spectacular the alignment."

When is the next planetary alignment?

The next planetary alignment is set to take place on Wednesday 28 August 2024. Six planets – Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn – will align in the sky.

Star Walk explains that: "You will be able to see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with the naked eye, however Mercury will be closer to the horizon and harder to spot. To see Neptune and Uranus, you'll need a telescope or high-powered binoculars."

It adds that yellowish Saturn will be in the sky from late evening onwards. It will be visible with the naked eye in the constellation Aquarius.

Neptune will be located in the nearby constellation Pisces, but you’ll need high-powered binoculars to spot it. In the morning, when the other planets rise, Saturn and Neptune will move down to the western horizon.

Later in the evening, Uranus will also rise and can be found in the Taurus constellation, visible with high-powered binoculars.

Jupiter and Mars will also be visible to the naked eye in the constellation Taurus.

Then, at dawn, Mercury will rise – and the planet will be located in the constellation Leo. It will be visible to the naked eye, however don’t wait too long to see it, as the Sun will soon rise next to it.

To help you along, you can download free stargazing apps, like Sky Tonight, to make it easy to identify any celestial object in the sky.

Love to stargaze? You'll enjoy these too...

6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (2)

The full moon names and dates in 2024

This year's lunar events to look out for

6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (3)

The best dates for stargazing in 2024

Plus a full beginner's guide

How often does a planetary alignment happen?

Whilst an alignment of a couple of planets is quite common, seeing five or more is rare. This August planetary alignment is the last time to see the phenomenon in 2024 – afterwards you won't see another alignment of over five planets until 2025!

3rd June 2024 - Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn.

28th August 2024 - Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.

18th January 2025 - Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.

28th February 2025 - Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars. It's your next chance to see 7 planets at once.

29th August 2025 - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.

How do you see a planetary alignment?

Much like any other astrological event, your best bet is to head to somewhere with as little light pollution as possible.

It also helps to have as much of the sky visible as possible, with nothing obstructing your view of the horizon. For example, a field on top of a hill would make an excellent choice, as would a beach.

For the best viewing experience, make sure to invest in some top-quality binoculars.

Binoculars for stargazing

6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (4)

Nikon PROSTAFF P7 Waterproof Binoculars

6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (5)

Kylietech High Power 12x42 Binoculars

Now 14% Off

6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (6)

Star Gazing 7 x 50 Binoculars
      6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment (2024)

      FAQs

      6 planets will align very soon What to know about this rare planetary alignment? ›

      Six planets – Mercury

      Mercury
      In English, it is named after the ancient Roman god Mercurius (Mercury), god of commerce and communication, and the messenger of the gods.
      https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mercury_(planet)
      , Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn
      Saturn
      Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about nine times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 times more massive.
      https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Saturn
      – will align in the sky. Star Walk explains that: "You will be able to see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn with the naked eye, however Mercury will be closer to the horizon and harder to spot.

      What is the meaning of the six planets alignment? ›

      Planetary alignment is a term used in astronomy to describe the event when several planets gather in a small sky area. This event may also be colloquially called a “planetary parade.” The next alignment of the six planets is on August 28, 2024. The planets will be visible just before sunrise.

      How rare is a six-planet alignment? ›

      Certain planetary alignments, with two to four planets, are fairly common, occurring several times per year. An alignment with six planets, however, is much less common. Amateur stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of this event should keep their eyes and equipment fixed on the eastern horizon just before sunrise.

      What will happen when all the planets align? ›

      There's no meaningful impact on Earth when the planets are aligned at all — though NASA has used planetary alignment to its advantage when launching missions to explore multiple planets and solar system objects, such as the Voyager 2 "Grand Tour" which began in 1977.

      When all planets come in a straight line in 2025? ›

      If you're willing to wait a little while, the ultimate planetary parade will happen on February 28, 2025, when all seven of the non-Earth planets will be visible in the night sky at the same time.

      What does it mean when planets align spiritually? ›

      Planetary alignments and transits aren't just about individual horoscopes. They also give insights into bigger events. For example, the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 2020 was seen as a sign of big changes coming. It marked a shift in the world's energy and brought new opportunities for growth and change.

      What is the spiritual meaning of the planetary alignment 2024? ›

      In 2024, planetary focus centers around Exposure, Balance, Alignment, and Justice, with cosmic forces working on balancing Earth's energetic scales, leading to karmic retribution and rebalancing across various areas. The New Earth Energy is bringing what needs to surface for collective awakening.

      Does planet alignment affect Earth? ›

      But nothing in particular would happen to Earth. Not much really. There isn't enough mass in all the planets to affect the Solar System as a whole. The Sun is much heavier than all the planets combined, and the planets are far enough apart that they won't change orbits, even a little.

      How often do all 9 planets align? ›

      So, on average, the three inner planets line up every 39.6 years. The chance that Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will all be within this arc as well on any given pass is 1 in 100 raised to the 5th power, so on average the eight planets line up every 396 billion years.

      When was the last time 6 planets aligned? ›

      According to Starwalk, the last planetary alignment in the Northern Hemisphere was on April 8 during the total solar eclipse. Those who end up missing this month's event have three more times to catch a major alignment in the next year.

      What year will all 8 planets align? ›

      If you consider the eight planets aligned if they are in the same 180-degree-wide patch of sky, the next time that will happen is May 6, 2492, according to Christopher Baird, an associate professor of physics at West Texas A&M University.

      What happens every 20 years? ›

      Great conjunctions occur approximately every 20 years when Jupiter "overtakes" Saturn in its orbit. They are named "great" for being by far the rarest of the conjunctions between naked-eye planets (i.e. excluding Uranus and Neptune).

      What happens if planets collide? ›

      A crash like this would completely liquify the two planets, leaving behind a single molten core surrounded by a cloud of gas, hot rock, and dust.

      What planets will collide in the future? ›

      New supercomputer simulations have predicted that, in 3 billion to 4 billion years, there is a chance that Venus or Mars will slam into our planet thanks to the subtle gravitational interactions between Jupiter and Mercury. Mars and Earth have practically zero chance of ever colliding.

      When all planets come in a straight line in 2024? ›

      A unique planetary alignment will be visible in the sky before sunrise tomorrow. The planetary alignment is also called as the parade of planets 2024. The illusion of all the planets alligning in a single line will be visible most clearly on Monday, June 3. However, people can spot the alignment over several days.

      What is the planetary line up in June 2024? ›

      Is there another 'planet parade' happening in June 2024? Yes, according to skywatching tips from NASA, a planetary alignment will happen June 29, 2024, consisting of Earth's moon and three planets: Jupiter, Mars and Saturn.

      What is the meaning of alignment of planets? ›

      First, let's clear up a common misconception. When we talk about “planetary alignment,” we're not suggesting that the planets line up in a perfect straight line in space. Rather, we are usually referring to a celestial event wherein multiple planets appear close together in the sky from our perspective on Earth.

      What planet does 6 represent? ›

      What planet is associated with Number 6? Venus is the ruling planet of Number 6 people.

      What does Venus and Jupiter aligning mean? ›

      Venus-Jupiter is one of the most auspicious and peaceful conjunctions in any horoscope where you will become a good example of a peace-loving person with harmonious and generous nature. You will be proactive to avoid conflicts and climb the ladder of compromise in resolving any disagreement.

      Top Articles
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Carmelo Roob

      Last Updated:

      Views: 5315

      Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

      Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Carmelo Roob

      Birthday: 1995-01-09

      Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

      Phone: +6773780339780

      Job: Sales Executive

      Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

      Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.