London: Skywatchers are in for a rare celestial event this week as seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—will briefly appear together in the evening sky.
This phenomenon, known as a “planetary parade,” offers a unique visual spectacle and will be the last opportunity to see all seven planets align so clearly until 2040. The best chance to catch this alignment will be just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Feb 25th till 28th).
Four planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars—will be visible to the naked eye, with Venus and Jupiter standing out due to their brightness, while Mars will have a distinct reddish hue. Saturn, positioned low on the horizon, will be harder to spot, and a telescope will be necessary to see Uranus and Neptune.
Dr. Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, emphasized the fleeting nature of this event and stated that, “There’s a rare opportunity to see seven planets conveniently positioned, but the viewing window is short.”
As the sun sets, Saturn and Mercury will quickly drop below the horizon, making them particularly difficult to observe. However, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will remain visible for a longer duration.
The alignment occurs because the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun along roughly the same flat plane. As they travel at different speeds and distances, certain moments create the illusion of them lining up when viewed from Earth, even though they remain separated by vast distances in space.
For the best viewing experience, astronomers recommend finding a location with an unobstructed horizon and minimal light pollution. Dr. Bloomer advises allowing about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark and avoiding bright screens like phones.
While this planetary alignment is a must-see event, Dr. Bloomer encourages people to regularly observe the night sky to witness the ever-changing movements of celestial bodies.
As for weather conditions, the skies are expected to become clearer later in the week. Tuesday evening will start with clear spells before clouds and rain arrive from the west.
Wednesday (26th of Feb) night may be cloudier with occasional showers, but by Thursday and Friday, drier and clearer conditions should provide the best opportunity to view the planets. However, mist and fog may develop later in the evening, making earlier observation ideal.
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