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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Planetary alignment, supermoon, meteor shower to dazzle June night sky

Planetary alignment, supermoon, meteor shower to dazzle June night sky

Published Jun 1, 2022 12:06 pm

The planetary parade of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn joined by the moon at 5 p.m. using the Stellarium application. (PAGASA)

Skygazers are in for a triple celestial spectacle coming up this month.

In its astronomical diary for June, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Filipino skywatchers will be treated with the sight of a supermoon, five-planet alignment, and meteor shower in the coming weeks.

5 planets to align in a rare planetary parade

PAGASA said that planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible in the eastern sky for the entire month.

“The month of June provides a rare opportunity to view the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn at the same time in the eastern sky before sunrise. The daily view of the eastern sky at around 5 a.m. showcasing the stunning view of the planetary parade joined each day by the moon from June 18-27, together with its background constellations,” it said.

“Several close pairings, also known as appulse, are observable from mid to late June,” PAGASA said, adding that the said close pairings are “visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars and are too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope.”

June supermoon

PAGASA said the full moon on June 14 will be about 357,656.377 kilometers away from earth, thus, considered a “supermoon.”

It explained that a supermoon, technically known as the “perigean full moon,” is an astronomical phenomenon occurring when the closest approach of the moon to the earth, referred to as perigee, coincides with a full moon.

Citing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, PAGASA said the moon may appear up to 17 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the average full moon during a supermoon.

“However, the change in size and brightness of the moon during the supermoon compared to the regular full moon might be difficult to detect through visual comparison. Changes in the size of the moon can be recognized once compared side by side with the previous photo of a regular full moon,” PAGASA pointed out.

Meteor shower peaks June 27

The June Bootids, a meteor shower produced by the Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, will be active from June 22 to July 2. Its peak will occur around June 27.

PAGASA said that meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment, such as telescopes or binoculars, is needed.

“Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions,” it said.

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