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Planets align in rare “planet parade” celestial event this January and February

Starting in January and continuing into February, a spectacular celestial event will grace the night sky as up to seven planets align.

Starting this January and continuing into February, a spectacular celestial event will grace the night sky as up to seven planets align in what NASA has called a “planet parade”. This is a rare and spectacular opportunity to witness the wonders of the solar system.

The planetary alignment, or planet parade if you will, will feature six visible planets – Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus. Four of these will be visible to the naked eye through most of the event, which lasts until February 21st. With binoculars or a telescope, you can even spot the more distant planets like Uranus and Neptune.

The planets all orbit along an invisible line called the ecliptic, but their different speeds and orbits occasionally bring them together, making them appear closely aligned from Earth. While alignments like this aren’t “super rare”, they certainly don’t happen every year, making this one particularly special.

What makes this planetary parade even more exciting is that for a brief period in late January, all seven planets will line up. On the weekend of January 25th, Mercury will join the parade, giving stargazers a rare opportunity to see all seven planets at once – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Some will be visible to the naked eye, while others will need binoculars or a telescope to be seen.

Here’s what to look for:

  • Mars: Look for its red glow in the sky in the east.
  • Jupiter: Spot Jupiter high in the sky, bright and easy to identify.
  • Venus: Known as the “Evening Star,” Venus will shine brightly in the southwest.
  • Saturn: Visible in the southwest after sunset.
  • Uranus and Neptune: These distant planets are harder to spot, but a telescope or binoculars will help!

Even though Uranus and Neptune aren’t as bright, their inclusion in the event makes it even more rare. If you don’t have a telescope, you can visit a local observatory or planetarium to get a closer look (like the Adelaide Planetarium in South Australia).

This celistial event won’t last long, but even in February, you’ll still be able to see Mercury in the evening sky, along with Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, but Uranus and Neptune will begin to fade from view.

When and where to look:

  • Best Time: The best time to view the alignment is shortly after sunset, when the sky is dark enough but the planets haven’t yet dipped below the horizon.
  • Where: For the best view, find a clear, dark sky away from city lights. The planets will be visible from most parts of the world, though visibility may vary depending on your location.

So, get outside this January and February and look up at this rare and spectacular celestial event!

If you want to learn more, visit NASA’s website for information.

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