On the morning of August 12, the sky will offer a rare spectacle with the visible alignment of six planets before sunrise: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These celestial bodies will be distributed along the ecliptic line, the apparent path of planets in the sky.
The phenomenon will be observable in the hours leading up to dawn, especially from 4:30 AM, depending on atmospheric conditions and location. Venus and Jupiter will be the easiest to spot with the naked eye, followed by Saturn. Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope.
Although the term "alignment" is used, the planets will not be in a straight line in space but will appear to be positioned along a common band in the sky due to their orbits in the same plane of the Solar System. Mainland Portugal will have better visibility conditions in areas away from light pollution.
The event coincides with the Perseid meteor shower period, making the early morning even more special for astronomy enthusiasts. It is recommended to find locations with an unobstructed eastern horizon and avoid intense artificial lights.
