The world is a wide, wonderful place, the boundaries of which are not confined to Earth, either. The skies have long fed and fueled the wanderlust of naturalists, romantics, artists, and adventurers, providing infinite and gratifying soul-filling fuel. Gazing up at the big, beautiful universe, with its twinkling stars and far-away galaxies, is an immensely grounding and inspiring experience. And while there are some stellar dark sky parks in the U.S. for epic stargazing, adventure-seekers in the Midwest will be treated to a bucket-list-worthy sky-watching experience during this summer’s incredibly rare ecliptic event that’s viewable with the naked eye – or a simple pair of binoculars.
The universe is vast, and gazing up at its infinite expanse is a grounding and humbling experience sure to fill you with awe and wonder.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
Seasoned stargazers know this, coming out en masse when the sun sets and moon rises, often with special telescopes, expensive cameras, and sophisticated equipment.
Gwydion M Williams/Flickr
And events such as meteor showers and supermoons attract novice stargazers looking to unlock the secrets of the infinite universe, as well.
European Southern Observatory/Flickr
But this month, all Midwest stargazers can leave the fancy equipment behind during a rare “planet parade” event where the five naked-eye planets become visible on their respective planes of the solar system, known as the ecliptic.
Gwydion M Williams/Flickr
During this incredibly rare event, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will line up in their proper orbital order from the sun. Visible without a telescope, the planets will appear almost within striking distance of one another, though they won’t be nearly as close as they appear; each of these worlds is millions of miles away from the others!
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Facebook
Early birds take note: the best time to view the five planets is in the 30 minutes before sunrise. As the month progresses, the spectacle will become more dazzling, with peak viewing happening June 24.
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Facebook
While visible all across the skies of the Midwest, finding more secluded areas with low light pollution will help novice astronomers spot the phenomenon, which hasn’t happened since 2004.
Mr.TinMD/Flickr
So this month, don’t forget to look up. Because what’s above you is immensely beautiful and wondrous; a rare astronomic phenomenon that’s not to be missed.
Sky & Telescope/Facebook
Have you viewed the planet parade before? For those in the Midwest, this month’s ecliptic event is a bucket-list-worthy experience worth seeking out.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
Gwydion M Williams/Flickr
European Southern Observatory/Flickr
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Facebook
Mr.TinMD/Flickr
Sky & Telescope/Facebook
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