Saturn, Venus, Mercury in conjunction this month

A grouping or conjunction of the planets Saturn, Venus and Mercury will be visible in the skies this month, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

"On June 15, Saturn will be about 33 degrees from the west-northwest direction after sunset. Venus will lie to the lower left of Saturn while Mercury will be found in the lower left of Venus," PAGASA astronomer Elmor Escosia told The STAR.

The three planets can be observed in one quadrant and, barring cloudiness, will be visible to the naked eye, according to Escosia.

"From June 22 to June 29, the three planets will be closer to each other and will lie within a 25-degree circle," he said.

Astronomer Escosia pointed out, though, that the three planets’ position is a "conjunction," not an "alignment."

"There is no such thing as alignment of planets, as they are in different planes," he noted.

Meanwhile, the planet Jupiter can be observed at the zenith or directly overhead after sunset during the month.

"Jupiter will shine at magnitude negative 2.2 and will lie among the stars of the constellation Virgo," said Escosia. "Its four Galilean satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto can be seen with the aid of a telescope and its two dark equatorial belts can also be observed."

Yesterday, the PAGASA astronomer also told The STAR that summer would start this month in the Northern Hemisphere.

"The Summer Solstice falls on June 21 at 2:46 p.m., Philippine Standard Time, marking the start of the apparent southward movement of the Sun in the ecliptic," Escosia said.