7 Planets Are Aligning in the Sky This Week

The planets will all be visible in a rare ‘planet parade’ in the night sky this week for the final time in such a manner until 2040.

People look up to the sky from an observatory near the village of Avren, Bulgaria, on Aug. 12, 2009. Petar Petrov/AP Photo

Stargazers are in for a treat as a rare “planet parade” unfolds across the night sky this week, according to NASA.

The seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—will all be visible in the night sky this week for the final time in such a manner until 2040.

The alignment showcases Venus, Mars, and Jupiter visible just after sunset, with a faint Saturn that will diminish as it sinks lower in the sky each evening. Uranus and Neptune will need to be seen through binoculars or telescopes.

NASA said this alignment happens because of our solar system’s disc-shaped nature, with planets orbiting the Sun in a relatively flat plane. From Earth’s perspective, this creates the illusion of planets lining up across the sky.

“Planet parade isn’t a technical term in astronomy, and planetary alignment can refer to several different phenomena,” NASA clarified in a press release earlier this month.

The agency said that true planetary alignments in space, known as oppositions and conjunctions, are different from the visual alignments we observe from Earth.

The visibility of such also can depend on various factors, including the planet’s position relative to the horizon.

NASA says that for optimal viewing, planets should be at least 10 degrees above the horizon. Lower angles can result in atmospheric interference, making observation nearly impossible.

“For most observers to see a planet with the naked eye, it needs to be at least a few degrees above the horizon, and 10 degrees or higher is best,” the space agency advised.

The ‘Wanderers’

Of the eight planets in our solar system, only five are typically visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They have been visible since ancient times, earning the nickname “wanderers” due to their seeming movement against the fixed backdrop of stars, according to NASA.

The word planet also originates from the Greek word for “wanderer” (plánitis), NASA notes.

Uranus and Neptune however are typically only visible with the help of a telescope, especially during the twilight conditions that are typical of planet parades, which can further obscure objects in the sky due to the residual glow.

Notable upcoming alignments include another four-planet parade in August and a five-planet spectacle in late 2029, with another five-planet sighting in late February 2034, NASA said.

For the best chance to witness the celestial event, NASA recommends checking local astronomical forecasts and finding a good viewing location away from light pollution.

From NTD News