An artist’s impression of the solar system
Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski
All of the planets in our solar system are aligning in the night sky simultaneously this week, creating a spectacular celestial event known as a great planetary alignment or a “planetary parade.”
The planets in our solar system orbit the sun in a similar plane due to their formation from the same debris disk around the sun. This alignment along the ecliptic, the path the sun follows in the sky, allows for the planets to appear in close proximity to each other during certain periods.
During a planetary alignment, all seven visible planets will be scattered across the night sky, a rare occurrence that offers a unique opportunity for skywatchers. This alignment will be visible for a few evenings around 28 February, depending on your location.
The optimal viewing time is just after sunset, when all the planets will be visible in an arc across the sky. While Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, and Venus will be close to the horizon, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus will be visible for most of the night. As darkness falls, Mercury and Saturn will dip below the horizon, followed by Neptune and Venus.
The varying orbital periods of the planets, ranging from 88 days for Mercury to nearly 165 years for Neptune, make such alignments rare. A great alignment occurs when the planets are far from the sun and visible at night, aligning in the same half of the sky. These events are a remarkable orbital coincidence, with some years having multiple alignments and others none at all. The next similar event is not expected until 2040.
David Armstrong, an astronomer at the University of Warwick, UK, encourages skywatchers to take advantage of this planetary parade and appreciate the wonder of our solar system. Engaging with astronomy and witnessing these celestial events firsthand can be a truly awe-inspiring experience.
Additional reporting by Alex Wilkins
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