London: Stargazers around the world are in for a celestial treat as seven planets align in a rare astronomical event on February 28. Known as a planetary parade, the planet alignment occurs when multiple planets appear to line up in the night sky.
Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained that while such planetary groupings happen regularly, a full seven-planet alignment is uncommon. Greg Brown stated that, “The more planets involved, the more things need to be aligned to be visible at once. This makes full seven-planet parades fairly rare.”
The alignment will feature Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. However, not all will be easy to spot. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye, while Mercury and Saturn will be closer to the horizon, making them harder to see. Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope due to their faint visibility.
According to Dr. Shyam Balaji of King’s College London, the best time to catch the alignment is shortly after sunset. In the UK, the planets will be visible above the western horizon, while stargazers in Australia should look north. In the US, experts recommend heading out about 30 minutes after sunset and bypassing bright city lights.
Planetary alignments occur because the planets orbit the Sun within the same plane, known as the ecliptic. As they move at different speeds and distances, they occasionally appear to line up from Earth’s perspective.
While smaller planetary parades featuring three to five planets are relatively common, a seven-planet alignment is rare. The next opportunity to catch this event will be in 2040.
For those looking to enhance their viewing experience, stargazing apps can help locate the planets. Telescopes can also disclose additional details, such as the moons of Jupiter or the crescent shape of Venus. The planets will remain visible through the spring before gradually drifting apart.
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