Sky gazers across the UK have been treated to a rare celestial event this week as all seven planets became visible in the night sky – but you’ll have to be quick – tonight’s your final chance
Sky-watchers across the UK have been left delighted thanks to a spectacular cosmic show this week as all seven planets put on their brightest displays.
However, to enjoy this rare astronomical event space fans will need to act fast – it’s not returning until 2040 – and tonight is the final evening to enjoy the spectacular sights.
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn have formed in what’s dubbed a ‘planetary parade’ but make sure to be some of the last stargazers to seize the opportunity because it will be another 16 years until all seven planets visibly line up in such majestic clarity.
When talking stars, astronomers refer to ‘planetary alignment’ when a group of planets snuggle up on one side of the Sun.
Although technically, these space roamers are always aligned in their orbits along the ecliptic plane, an actual ‘planetary parade’ happens when they snugly queue along this path and pop into view from Earth.
Chiming in with expert insight, Dr Edward Bloomer from the Royal Observatory Greenwich mentioned to the BBC : “There’s a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them.”
While you can spot Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars with the mere squint of an eye, catching a glimpse of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune might require a telescope, with Saturn hugging the horizon and Uranus and Neptune playing hard to get.
Despite this, stargazers are encouraged to look up at the sky for the final time tonight [Friday, 28 February] to catch the celestial display with experts highlighting that this will be the prime time to witness the ‘planetary parade’.
To maximise your viewing experience, seek out clear skies and an unobstructed horizon, while also aiming for a location with minimal light pollution.
Dr Bloomer cautioned: “You really only have a few minutes to catch them before they drop below the horizon. After that, you’ll still be able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for a much longer time.”
