In a rare celestial phenomenon, all of our solar system’s planets will align in the night sky this week. This stunning event, known as a great planetary alignment or “planetary parade,” will showcase seven visible planets scattered across the heavens.
The eight planets orbit the sun in a similar plane due to their formation from the same disc of debris. This alignment means they will appear roughly along the ecliptic, the path the sun traces across the sky. While the planets do not form a perfect line because of their slightly tilted orbits, they will be closely arranged during this alignment.
Typically, only a handful of planets are visible at any given time, making this week’s alignment particularly exciting. The celestial display will be present for several evenings around February 28, depending on local conditions.
For the best viewing experience, observers should look right after sunset, where they can witness the planets forming an arc across the sky. However, aside from Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus, which will be higher up, Mercury and Saturn will set below the horizon shortly after, followed by Neptune and Venus.
The rarity of such alignments is influenced by the different orbital periods of the planets. Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, takes approximately 88 Earth days to complete an orbit, while Neptune, the farthest, requires nearly 165 Earth years.
A significant alignment happens only when the planets are positioned away from the sun enough to be visible at night, concentrated in approximately the same half of the sky. These spectacular alignments can occur multiple times in a year or go years without happening. The next similar event isn’t expected until 2040.
Experts are thrilled about the interest generated by this planetary parade. Observing the planets and engaging with astronomy can inspire appreciation for the wonders of our solar system. Everyone is encouraged to take a moment to step outside and enjoy the view during this rare astronomical event.
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