28/01/2025
Amazing Celestial Spectacle: 7 Planets at a Glance

The night sky is treating us to an extraordinary event right now: a rare celestial alignment known as a "planetary parade". For the next six weeks or so, six planets – Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn – will form a striking line across the heavens. This rare phenomenon is a perfect opportunity to observe our neighbouring planets in detail. However, spotting Uranus and Neptune can be tricky. While the brighter planets are easy to see with the naked eye, the two ice giants appear much fainter due to their incredible distance from Earth and are only visible through a telescope. The show becomes even more spectacular at the end of February, when Mercury joins the line-up as the seventh planet.
What Makes This Planet Parade So Special?
It’s not unusual to see a few planets in the night sky at the same time – three planets aligning happens roughly once a year. But seeing more than five planets at once is a rare treat that only comes around every 10 to 20 years. These alignments occur because each planet orbits the Sun at a different speed, making such configurations infrequent and special. During this alignment, you’ll also get the chance to witness some close encounters known as conjunctions. On 3 February, Venus will appear side by side with Neptune, while on 25 February, Mercury will sit right next to Saturn. Don’t miss this incredible chance to explore the wonders of our solar system – it’s a sight you’ll remember for years to come.



Top Tips for Observing
To get the best view of this cosmic event, head to a dark location well away from city lights. The ideal time to observe is shortly after sunset until around 9:30 PM (CET). If you’re unsure where to look, astronomy apps like Stellarium are great tools to help pinpoint the planets. Here’s a tip: unlike stars, planets don’t twinkle. If you own a telescope, consider using special filters to enhance the details of these celestial giants and make the most of the experience.