Tips on how to see planets align with the moon throughout summer time solstice tonight
T
he northern hemisphere has its longest day of the 12 months on Wednesday and the Summer Solstice is about to offer stargazers with a uncommon alternative.
The Sun can be at its highest place over the UK and there may be scope to see the Moon, Venus, and Mars.
Looking up on the proper time (and in the suitable path) on Wednesday, it ought to be doable to catch a glimpse of a crescent moon. This will kind a line within the sky that may illuminate Mars and Venus.
Mars may be troublesome to identify with the bare eye however can, even with simply binoculars, be seen. But Venus and the Moon can be simply identifiable, the latter will seem in a skinny form with simply 12 per cent of its floor seen.
The greatest probability to see the impact ought to be by trying west at round 10pm. Venus will seem as a vibrant speck of white however it should take some additional examination to see Mars.
Space.com stated: “About four degrees to its upper left, appearing to shine rather feebly, will be Mars. You’ll likely need binoculars to see it at all in the bright twilight even after Venus becomes obvious.”
If you miss it on Wednesday, there’s a probability to lookup on Thursday evening as effectively, when the planets ought to nonetheless be in alignment.
Space specialists have identified that this isn’t an official assembly of the 2 planets, nonetheless, and is as an alternative thought of a quasi-conjunction. This means they don’t fairly meet however come inside 5 levels of one another.
The Royal Museums Greenwich stated: “Most people consider the summer solstice to be a day, it is in reality an exact moment in time that falls upon that day.
“This moment comes when whichever hemisphere you’re in is most tilted towards the Sun.”
There are loads of methods to have a good time the event in London, from swimming to meditation. Find out extra in our guide here.