Summer Solstice Dawn

By Stargazer Ron

Those of us awake just before dawn on the 2022 Summer Solstice were treated with a rare planetary alignment that won't occur again for nearly two decades. The last one visible in the night sky occurred in 2004. Attached is a photo I made from East Beach with three (Jupiter, Mars, and Venus) of the five planets visible (Mercury had not yet risen and Saturn was out of the field of view in the upper right).

If you haven't seen the alignment yet, they will be visible in good weather through the end of June. You early birds could try looking east before 5:00 AM. I'm planning on using a wider angle lens tomorrow and try to include Saturn in the scene.