Skywatchers will get a chance to witness a rare celestial display on August 12, when six planets will appear together across the sky before sunrise.
Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will be visible in the same general part of the sky, forming a broad arc from the eastern horizon toward the southwestern sky.
The phenomenon, commonly known as a planetary parade, does not mean that the planets are actually arranged in a straight line in space. Instead, they appear to line up when viewed from Earth.
The celestial display will also be observable from Pakistan before sunrise, although visibility will depend on clear weather and an unobstructed view of the horizon.
Mars and Saturn will be relatively easy to spot with the naked eye, while Mercury and Jupiter could be more difficult to see because they will be closer to the horizon. Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope.
Observers are likely to get the best view from locations with a clear and open eastern horizon.
The planetary parade will coincide with another major astronomical event, with the Perseid meteor shower reaching its peak on the night of August 12 into the early hours of August 13.
The annual meteor shower could produce up to 100 meteors per hour under dark skies, although around 30 to 50 meteors per hour are typically visible from rural locations.
This year’s new moon is also expected to provide favorable viewing conditions by keeping the night sky darker. Pakistan is among the countries where the Perseids will be visible.
With the planetary parade appearing before sunrise and the Perseids active between midnight and sunrise , August 12 will offer skywatchers a rare opportunity to observe two major celestial events within the same viewing period.
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