Astronomers and stargazers will have an exciting week ahead as seven planets — Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—will be briefly observable in the evening sky.
This event referred to as a ‘planetary parade,’ is a rare occurrence, and it will be the last opportunity to view seven planets together so clearly until 2040. The optimal time to glimpse as many planets as possible will be shortly after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Four planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars—will be easily visible to the naked eye. Spotting Saturn will be more challenging since it will sit low on the horizon. A telescope will be necessary to see the other two planets—Uranus and Neptune.
A clear view of the horizon and suitable weather conditions will enhance the likelihood of seeing all seven planets. However, the moment to view all of them will be pretty brief.
As the sun goes down, Saturn and Mercury will also be setting, making them especially tough to spot. The planets within our solar system revolve around the Sun in roughly the same flat plane as Earth.
Due to their varying speeds and distances from the Sun, there are instances when they appear to align from our viewpoint on Earth, resulting in a stunning visual display, although immense gaps in space separate the planets themselves. Venus and Jupiter will stand out due to their brightness, while Mars will exhibit a distinct red colour.
Although the weather is unpredictable, clearer and calmer conditions are anticipated to develop later in the week.
