You may have seen mention of a "rare planetary alignment" or a "parade of six planets" visible in the pre-dawn sky on June 3. This astronomical event is much more likely to disappoint than delight.

What is true

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Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are on the same of the Sun right now and will be extended along a line extending up from the horizon  before sunrise that morning.

That's all that is really true in glowing descriptions of this "don't miss" event. In reality, only Mars and Saturn will be visible for most.

Uranus an Neptune too far away to be seen without sizable telescope on any day. Mercury and Jupiter are too close to the Sun and too close to the horizon before dawn for the next several weeks to be seen.  

what the
When you should actually mark your calendar on June 3, 2024 (Rice/Stellarium)

What is not true

This is far from rare. It happens several time each year, first in the predawn sky for a few weeks or months, then in the evening sky.

Planets appearing in a line isn't unusual either. Each planet moves through the our sky within a few degrees of "the ecliptic", the same line the Sun follows through the sky.

June 3 isn't special either. It isn't even the best time to see the most planets in the pre-dawn sky.

The planets aren't nearly as evenly spaces along the ecliptic as illustrations like the one at the top show suggest. Saturn will be in the southeast, much higher and a third of the sky away from Mars.

When you should actually mark your calendar

August 24-31 will be even better as Jupiter rises high enough above the horizon to join Mars and Saturn. September 2-8 is even better as Mercury will be high enough and separated from the Sun in the dawn sky to be seen.

Star gazing without the need to set your alarm sounds better, venus, ars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible in the evening sky from mid January 2025 to mid February.