On the evening of February 28, a rare phenomenon will be observable: a grand parade of planets. Six celestial bodies will line up in the sky, according to Euronews.
This spectacle occurs because the orbits of the planets, including Earth, lie in a single plane known as the ecliptic plane. Although in reality the planets do not align in a straight line in space, at the moment of the "parade," they will be in the same area, allowing an observer on Earth to see them simultaneously.
The parade will feature Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This astronomical event can be observed for several days before and after February 28.
The optimal time for viewing is from half an hour to an hour after sunset. Head west to see the planets.
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. Venus stands out as the brightest "star" in the evening sky, while Jupiter will be positioned higher and slightly southeast. Saturn will be faint and located closer to Venus, low on the horizon. Mercury will be the hardest to see, as it will only be visible for a short time right after sunset.
To spot Uranus and Neptune, a telescope or at least binoculars will be required.
This year will be particularly rich in astronomical parades: on April 18, a small morning parade featuring Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune will be visible; on June 12, a mini-parade with Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will take place; and on August 12, another major parade, this time in the morning, will include Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. Finally, on the morning of November 14, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will align in a straight line.
