A RARE space phenomenon will be visible in the night skies for the last time until 2040.
Seven planets – Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury and Saturn – will all be briefly visible in the night sky over the next few days in what is known as a "planetary parade".
It will be the last time seven planets can be seen simultaneously so well until 2040.
The best chance to see as many planets as possible will be just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Four of the planets – Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars – will be visible to the naked eye. Saturn will be harder to see because it will be low in the horizon. You will need a telescope to spot the other two planets – Uranus and Neptune.
A good view of the horizon and clear skies will offer the best chance of spotting them all. However, the window to see all seven planets will be very brief.
Dr Edward Bloomer, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the BBC: "There's a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them."
As the sun sets, Saturn and Mercury will also be setting, making them particularly difficult to see.
"You really only have a few minutes after sunset to catch them before they drop below the horizon. After that, you'll still be able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for a much longer time," Dr Bloomer added.
The planets in our solar system orbit the Sun within roughly the same flat plane as the Earth.
As they orbit at different speeds and distances from the Sun, there are moments when they appear to line up from Earth's perspective creating a spectacular visual display, although the planets remain separated by vast distances in space.
Venus and Jupiter will be the easiest to spot due to their brightness, while Mars will have a distinct reddish hue.
"Uranus is technically visible with the naked eye, but you'd need perfect eyesight and ideal conditions," Dr Bloomer explained.
To improve your chances of seeing as many planets as possible, Dr Bloomer advised heading to a location with a clear view of the horizon and minimal light pollution.
"If you just pop out of your kitchen into your back garden, you will take time to adjust to the light levels. Give it a bit of time - your eyes take about half an hour to fully adjust.
"Avoid looking at your phone, get comfortable, and ensure you have an unobstructed view of the horizon."
