Stargazers all over the world are in for an astronomical treat as a rare planetary alignment of five planets will grace the night sky at the end of March. The five planets, namely Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus, will align beneath the moon and create a stunning visual display that’s sure to awe everybody who sets their eyes on it.
The Alignment
The alignment will be visible across both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, even in urban areas with significant light pollution. This celestial phenomenon is caused by the alignment of the sun, Earth, and these planets that are all situated on one side of the solar system.
To spot this display, people can head out to a place with a good view of the western horizon just after sunset. The parade of planets will appear “kind of like pearls on a necklace” across the night sky as they align themselves in an arc shape as seen from Earth. The entire alignment will cover about 70 degrees of the sky.
What To Expect
Venus, also known as the “evening star,” will be the easiest planet to spot due to its brightness while Uranus will appear close to Venus but may require binoculars or a telescope to be picked out. Jupiter and Mercury will be hovering just above the horizon while Mars will be sitting in a straight line up from Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and the moon.
On March 28th, which is considered one of the best viewing days for this event, stargazers can observe Mars next to the moon with Venus as the brightest planet following it. Jupiter and Mercury can also be located in close proximity to each other.
People can identify which planet is which in this dazzling celestial display by keeping these traits in mind – Jupiter and Mercury closest to the horizon, Mars next to the moon, Venus being the brightest planet, and Uranus appearing as a “greenish star” above the moon.
Viewing Tips
This planetary parade can be viewed with the naked eye, though binoculars or small telescopes would enhance the experience further. To achieve a better viewing experience, it’s best to step away from street and city lights, which can disrupt the visibility of celestial events.
Finding a dark location to watch is helpful but not necessary. This astronomical event will be visible to the naked eye for several days before and after March 28th, which is a recommended viewing day.
Stargazers can also check out Twitter or Instagram using #PlanetParade or #Astronomy to see what others around the world are saying about this cosmic show.
Frequency Of Occurrence
A five-planet alignment typically occurs every couple of years on average. Another five-planet alignment will take place on June 17th with Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune, and Saturn.
Final Thoughts
While this rare planetary alignment of five planets is an interesting celestial event to witness, humans should not assign too much significance to it. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent opportunity for stargazers worldwide to immerse themselves in our beautiful universe and marvel at its wonders.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
