An unique astronomical phenomenon will be observed in most parts of the world, including Goa, on the morning of 3rd June when all the solar system planets (except Earth), the Sun and Moon will align in the Eastern dawn sky.
At this time, only the Earth will be on the western side of the Sun and all the other planets will be grouped in the East. On Monday (3rd June), Saturn will rise at 1.15 am in the East, followed by the Crescent Moon rising at 2.30am. Planet Neptune will be exactly at the centre of these two. After the rising of Mars at 3.10am, the next to be visible are Mercury and Jupiter by 5.25am. on the horizon.
Uranus will be above the planet Mercury. Finally as the Sun and Venus rise together at 6.00am, the Sunlight will block out the whole arrangement.
With the phenomenon happening at dawn, given the ambient sunlight along with expected cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorm forecasts, there will be very less chance of observing this entire alignment. For those intrested in viewing this, the clearest objects in this alignment: Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn in order will be visible with naked eyes starting from very low east to zenith around 5.30am on the Monday morning; subject to clear skies and no telescope or binoculars are needed to view these.
Meanwhile, the Public Astronomical Observatory in Panaji will be kept open from 5-6 am on Monday, 3rd June. The entry is free, states a press note by Association of Friends of Astronomy (Goa).
