Get ready for a spectacular celestial event—this week, seven planets will align in the night sky, and it won’t happen again for another 15 years.
If you’re free tomorrow night, consider finding a clear spot, grabbing a blanket and a chair, and preparing to witness Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mercury forming a rare planetary lineup.
What Causes This Rare Alignment?
This phenomenon, known as a planetary alignment, occurs when multiple planets appear close together in the sky due to their orbits around the Sun. While Pluto is missing from the lineup, this event still qualifies as an extraordinary celestial sight.
Each planet orbits the Sun at different speeds—Mercury, the closest planet, takes just 88 days to complete an orbit, while Neptune, the farthest, takes a staggering 165 years. On rare occasions, their orbits sync up in a way that creates a planetary “parade” visible from Earth.
Dr. Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, explained:
“On 28 February, a seven-planet alignment will occur. Planetary alignments, where multiple planets appear close together in the sky, occur periodically but are relatively rare.”
He added that alignments involving six or more planets happen approximately every few decades, depending on their orbital positions.
Do Planetary Alignments Affect Earth?
Despite speculation that planetary alignments could impact Earth, Dr. Balaji clarified that they have no significant influence on our planet’s tides or weather.
“The gravitational influence of the planets on Earth is negligible compared to that of the Moon and the Sun,” he stated.
While some theories, such as physicist Frank Stefani’s 2019 hypothesis, suggest that the alignments of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter might affect the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle, there is no strong scientific evidence supporting this claim.
How to See the Planetary Alignment
For the best chance of seeing this rare event, head to a location with minimal light pollution and clear skies. While a telescope will enhance the experience, binoculars should be enough to spot most of the planets.
- Easiest to Spot: Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter will be the brightest.
- Mars: A small, glowing orange ball.
- Uranus & Neptune: These planets will be much harder to see, but with ideal conditions, they will appear as tiny dots just after sunset.
If you miss it this time, mark your calendar for 2040—your next opportunity to witness a planetary parade.
Don’t miss this breathtaking celestial event!
