Planetary parade: Mercury falls into line for rare seven-planet alignment
GuardianFEB 26
A celestial event known as a "planetary parade" is occurring this week, with all seven planets other than Earth visible in the night sky simultaneously, marking a rare astronomical alignment that won't occur again until 2040.
Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will be easily visible to the naked eye. However, Mercury and Saturn will be more challenging to spot near the horizon, and Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope for viewing.
The alignment is possible because all planets orbit the Sun within roughly the same plane, known as the ecliptic plane, creating the appearance of a line across the sky when viewed from Earth's perspective.
This alignment presents an extraordinary opportunity for public engagement with astronomy, offering families and individuals a chance to connect with the universe and appreciate the wonders of our solar system.
The media hype surrounding this event may lead to disappointment as not all planets will be clearly visible to casual observers, and the alignment isn't as spectacular or meaningful as some coverage suggests.