Skywatchers get ready for a celestial spectacle On February 28 all seven planets in our solar system Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align in the night sky for a rare “planetary parade” the last opportunity to witness this event until 2040.
This alignment began in January when Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune appeared together in the night sky. Now, with Mercury joining the lineup, stargazers are in for a truly rare sight.
Despite illustrations often showing planets in a straight line, they orbit the Sun in different planes, so the alignment won’t be perfectly linear. However, NASA explains that the planets will still appear close along the ecliptic the path in which they orbit the Sun making the event a must-see.
To catch the parade, head to a dark, open area far from city lights. Most planets will be visible with the naked eye, but a telescope may be needed to spot Neptune and Uranus. Mars will rise in the east, Jupiter and Uranus will be in the southeast, and Venus, Neptune, and Saturn will light up the western sky.
With clear skies and a bit of planning, this rare cosmic event promises a dazzling show before it disappears for another 15 years. Don’t miss out!
