Rare alignment of 5 planets peaks Friday as crescent moon joins the parade

Friday morning could be the best time to view a rare planetary alignment that has greeted early risers this month and will not happen again until 2040. 

Throughout June, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have lined up from left to right in the southeastern sky, in their orbital order from the sun. 

On Friday (June 24) the "planet parade" will be joined by a special guest as the crescent moon slots in between Venus and Mars, acting as a "stand-in" for Earth in the planetary procession. According to a statement (opens in new tab)from Sky&Telescope, Mercury should rise about an hour before the sun on Friday, meaning there is ample time to snag a glimpse of the whole parade before the sun puts an end to the viewing party.

This event is not one to be missed as the last time these five planets aligned was back in 2004 and it won't happen again until 2040, according to BBC Science Focus(opens in new tab).

Related: The brightest planets in June's night sky: How to see them (and when) 

According to BBC Science Focus, the best time to see the 2022 alignment will be between 3:39 a.m. and sunrise at 4:43 a.m. on the morning of 24 June 2022. Saturn will lead out the parade, rising around 23:21 p.m. local time (June 23) for those based in New York, according to timeanddate(opens in new tab), Jupiter will follow at 1:05 a.m., Mars at 1:44 a.m, Venus at 3:33 a.m. and finally Mercury at 4:11 a.m. 

The exact time of the event varies depending on your specific location, so you'll want to check out a skywatching app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night to check for times. Our picks for the best stargazing apps may help you with your planning.

Throughout June, the moon has embarked on a planetary "meet and greet" in the predawn sky first passing Saturn on June 18, then Jupiter on June 21 and Mars on June 22. The moon will continue its tour in the coming days, passing Venus on June 26 and then ending its tour with Mercury on June 27. 

If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to see alignments like Friday's event, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography to prepare to capture the next stargazing sight in a photo.