Six planets to align in weekend sky event
A rare planetary alignment will be visible this weekend as six planets—Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter form an arc across the night sky. NASA says the so‑called “planetary parade” will peak on February 28, offering a fleeting chance to observe multiple planets at once. However, scientists caution that only four will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require optical equipment.
The best viewing conditions will occur around 30 to 60 minutes after sunset, looking westward for the lower planets and eastward for Jupiter. Yet astronomers warn that “alignment” does not mean the planets will form a perfect line, but rather appear roughly arranged along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun.
India’s Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) described viral social media posts about the event as “highly exaggerated and misleading.” The institute explained that Jupiter will shine brightly until early morning, while Mercury and Venus will be almost impossible to see, positioned too close to the sun and setting less than an hour after sunset. Saturn will also appear low on the horizon and fade quickly after dusk.
The IIA advised viewers not to use binoculars or telescopes before sunset to search for Mercury, Venus, or Saturn, warning that doing so could result in permanent eye damage. Neptune, meanwhile, will require a telescope to detect.
According to National Geographic, such alignments occur about once every year or two. Astronomer Jason Steffen from the University of Nevada noted that casual observers should focus on brighter targets, adding that “if the light doesn’t twinkle, it’s probably a planet.” After this alignment, skywatchers can look forward to a total lunar eclipse on March 3.
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