News of a “planetary alignment” set to be visible in February has recently made headlines, prompting people worldwide to wonder how they could witness this celestial spectacle
Reports indicate that February is an ideal month for observing planets, with Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all visible in the night sky, as they were on Tuesday.
Later in the month, stargazers may have the chance to see these six planets joined by Mercury, creating a rare seven-planet alignment — weather permitting.
What is a planetary alignment?
The eight major planets in our Solar System orbit the sun on the same flat plane but at vastly different speeds. Mercury, being the closest to the sun, completes an orbit in only 88 days, compared with Earth’s 365-day year. In stark contrast, Neptune, the farthest planet from the sun, takes a staggering 60,190 days — equivalent to 165 Earth years — to complete a single revolution.
Despite their differing orbital speeds, there are moments when the planets align roughly on the same side of the sun. When their orbits align just right, we can observe multiple planets in the night sky simultaneously. In particularly rare events, all eight planets may line up in such a way that they appear in our night sky together, following the ecliptic — the sun's apparent path through the sky.
Preston Dyches, from Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), emphasised that this so-called "alignment" is not as unique as it may sound.
"While it's true that they will appear more or less along a line across the sky, that's what planets always do," he said on the JPL website. "That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the Solar System where the planets orbit around the sun."
Nevertheless, these celestial events are relatively uncommon. According to CBC, the next significant planetary alignment visible from Earth is not expected until 2040, making this month's alignment a special opportunity for stargazers.
When and how to see seven planets line up over UK skies
The Met Office has previously advised that clear skies significantly increase the chances of spotting the planetary alignment. All seven planets are expected to make a brief appearance right after sunset on 28 February, forming an arc across the night sky.
At this time, Mercury and Saturn will be the first to dip below the horizon, followed by Neptune and Venus shortly afterwards. According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter should be easy to spot as bright white points of light. Mars will appear as a distinct orange dot, while Uranus may prove more elusive, requiring either exceptionally dark skies or a telescope to bring it into view.
While telescopes are ideal, binoculars can also be useful tools for observing the alignment, provided they are available. Scientists recommend stargazing from a location far removed from city lights to minimise light pollution and maximise visibility.
For the most accurate and up-to-date guidance on viewing conditions, astronomers suggest consulting reliable astronomy websites as the event approaches.
