A planetary procession will grace the skies of Jordan on Thursday evening... an astronomical phenomenon visible to the naked eye.

The skies of Jordan and neighboring countries will witness a distinctive astronomical phenomenon this evening, Thursday, June 18, 2026, known scientifically as the “Planetary Parade,” where the moon and a number of planets of the solar system appear to be aligned above the western horizon in a remarkable celestial scene.

The head of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Dr. Ammar Al-Sakaji, explained that the best time to observe the phenomenon will be immediately after sunset, specifically around 8:15 pm Amman time, with the necessity of having a clear sky free of clouds and light pollution to ensure clear visibility.

Observed with the naked eye without devices

The association explained that this phenomenon can be easily observed with the naked eye, as the celestial bodies are distributed along the ecliptic in a sequential and visible manner.

The moon appears in its early crescent phase near the very bright planet Venus on the western horizon, while Jupiter is positioned below them, and Mercury is in a low position close to the horizon.

Visual alignment, not an actual line in space.

The report noted that the “planetary parade” is an apparent alignment from the perspective of an observer on Earth, and does not mean that the planets are actually in a straight line in space, due to the difference in their orbits and speeds around the sun.

High engineering precision in alignment

Al-Sakji revealed a recent mathematical study that showed that the degree of geometric straightness of the alignment between the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury reached about 97.2% of the perfect line, with an angular deviation of less than one degree of arc, giving the scene unusual visual accuracy.

He added that the statistical analysis relied on the “standard deviation from the best maximum circle” scale, in a step that reflects the development of the use of mathematical models in studying astronomical phenomena and converting them into measurable and comparable data.

A phenomenon that combines beauty and scientific precision

This phenomenon is one of the remarkable astronomical sights of this month, combining ease of observation with the naked eye and scientific accuracy in describing the planetary alignment.