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6 Planets Align: Rare Sky Show This Week!
23 Feb
Summary
- Six planets will align in the night sky this week.
- Most planets visible with the naked eye, Uranus and Neptune require equipment.
- Alignments have no gravitational impact on Earth.
This week presents a rare celestial event as six planets align in the evening sky. Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter will form a visible grouping, weather permitting. Most of these planets, including Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter, can be observed without special equipment. However, spotting Uranus and Neptune will necessitate the use of specialist gear.
To witness this phenomenon, observers should look towards the southern sky about 30 minutes after sunset, ideally in areas with minimal light pollution. Such alignments occur when planets orbit to the same side of the Sun from Earth's perspective. Scientists emphasize that these planetary parades are purely geometrical coincidences and exert no gravitational influence on Earth.
The next significant planetary alignment is anticipated in October 2028, featuring five planets, followed by another in February 2034. These occurrences, while not unique to a single lifetime, provide an uncommon opportunity to appreciate our solar system's arrangement.
