Five planets line up in order for first time in two decades

A RARE planetary alignment will take place this weekend, as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible and lined up in the correct order for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The conjugation can be seen in the northern hemisphere throughout most of June shortly before sunrise – low in the sky in the east and rising towards the south.

Stargazers will have been able to catch their first glimpse this morning, although Mercury will be the most tricky to spot until later in the month as it climbs higher in the sky and brightens significantly.

The alignment, which was last seen in 2004, will peak on June 24, when the planets will be at their brightest and most visible for around an hour before dawn. The crescent Moon will also be visible directly between Venus and Mars.

Although it is common to see two, three or even four planets aligning, five is rare, and it is even more unusual for them to be arranged in their natural order in distance from the Sun.

Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), said: “For the UK, Mercury today and tomorrow will be really hard to see. It’s easier the further south you go. I would encourage people to look out on the morning of June 24, and the days around that time, when Mercury will be easier, and the other four planets will be higher in the sky at dawn.”

All five planets are visible with the naked eye, although experts recommend taking binoculars and finding a clear low view towards the east.

Planets can be identified because they shine more steadily in the sky, and do not twinkle like stars, because they are closer to Earth.

Venus, second from the left, will be the brightest of the planets and shine bright white. Jupiter is also dull white and shines second brightest followed by a yellow-ish Saturn, while Mars has a distinctive orange hue.

For most of the month the alignment will be visible for just half an hour before the glare of the rising Sun obscures the planets.

Neptune and Uranus will also be in their correct positions although they are not visible to the naked eye, so a telescope is needed to see all the planets in alignment.

Despite the claims made by astrologers, the gravitational impact of the alignment is so negligible that it will have no impact on Earth.

A supermoon will also be visible on June 24, known as the Strawberry Moon.