Rare celestial event will show five planets aligned in UAE’s night skies

Five planets will align in a row this month for the first time in 18 years and will be visible to the naked eye around the world, including in the UAE.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be lined up in their natural order from the Sun.

The rare celestial event was clearly visible on June 3 and 4, but will be even more compelling on June 24, when the planets will appear closer together.

The Al Sadeem Observatory in Abu Dhabi confirmed to The National that the planetary line-up will be visible in the UAE’s night skies.

“The conjunction will be visible before sunrise in the south-eastern portion of the sky,” a spokesperson at the observatory said.

For the first time in 18 years, this month five planets will align in their natural order from the Sun. Photo: Sky and Telescope

The last time these planets were aligned across the horizon in order was in December, 2004, according to Sky and Telescope magazine.

Although visible throughout June before sunrise, there are some notable dates when the line-up will appear brighter.

“While seeing two or three planets close together (in what’s known as a conjunction) is a rather common occurrence, seeing five is somewhat rarer,” Sky and Telescope said.

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"And what’s even more remarkable about this month’s line-up is that the planets are arranged in their natural order from the Sun.”

Early in the month, observers will need to use binoculars away from light pollution to see the alignment.

Later on, as Mercury climbs higher and brightens significantly, the line-up will be a stellar treat.

Strange Earth-like planets that lie beyond our solar system - in pictures

The landmark discovery of Trappist-1 set off a wave of excitement across the space community. It was the first time multiple Earth-sized planets were found in a habitable zone and were orbiting the same star – Trappist-1. Courtesy: Nasa

All seven planets orbiting Trappist-1 are believed to be rocky and have potential for water on the surface. Courtesy: Nasa

Located in a habitable zone, Kepler-22b was labelled by Nasa as ‘super Earth’. Researchers believe the planet, which is larger than Earth, could be another ocean world. However, because of the planet’s extreme tilt, the north and south poles would experience sunlight and darkness for half a year each. Courtesy: Nasa

Discovered in 2020, Toi 700 d is only 20 per cent larger than Earth and orbits an M Dwarf star – a cool and stable type of star that do not release killer stellar flares, or radiation. Located 100 million light years away from Earth, one year on the planet is 37.4 days. Courtesy: Nasa

Discovered in 2011, KEPLER-20e is an Earth-size planet that orbits a sun-like star outside of the solar system. It is too close to its star to be in the habitable zone, so it cannot hold liquid water. However, the discovery was still groundbreaking because it was the first time small exoplanets were found to be orbiting around a star that was similar to the Sun. Courtesy: Nasa

Kepler-20f was discovered along with Kepler-20e. A year on the planet is19.6 days. Courtesy: Nasa

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Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

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Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches