Skywatchers are in for a celestial treat as seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, and Venus—will appear aligned in the evening sky. This rare planetary configuration, often referred to as a planet parade or planetary alignment, will be visible from Earth just after sunset.
The solar system comprises eight planets in total: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Of these, Mercury is the closest to the sun and notoriously difficult to observe due to its proximity. Earth finds its place as the third planet from the sun, while Neptune holds the title of the furthest.
Mercury's challenging position means enthusiasts will need a clear view of the eastern horizon at sunset to catch this alignment. Dr. Gerard van Belle, astronomer and director of science at Lowell Observatory, advises patience and precision for those aiming to witness this stunning event.
"You have to do it right at sunset and you have to be able to see the eastern horizon very clearly because those three planets that are very close to the sun right now are pretty hard to catch." – Dr. Gerard van Belle
In this alignment, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be notably bright and easily identifiable with the naked eye. On the other hand, Neptune and Uranus will require telescopes or binoculars for better visibility. Saturn and Neptune conveniently line up in this celestial arrangement as well.
Though such multi-planet alignments occur "every few years, a couple of weeks at a time," this particular event is a rare opportunity for stargazers. The next chance to witness a planetary lineup will be in late August when four planets will align before sunrise.
Additionally, while the major planets steal the spotlight, it's worth noting there are five dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. These celestial bodies add to the complexity and wonder of our solar neighborhood.
