The rare planetary parade, which began last month, is moving towards its final and most spectacular display. On February 28, all planets in our solar system will appear in the night sky for a short period. Scientists have called this a rare celestial event that will not happen again until 2040.

What is planetary alignment?

Planetary alignment happens when multiple planets in our solar system gather closely on one side of the sun. Astronomers say that when three to eight planets align, it is called a planetary alignment.

There are different types of alignments. Five or six planets appearing together is called a large alignment. A five-planet alignment is quite common, but a six-planet alignment is less frequent. However, a seven-planet alignment, like the one happening now, is extremely rare.

Even with some images, the planets will not appear in a straight line. This is because they orbit the Sun in different paths within a three-dimensional space. NASA explains, "While it's true that they [planets] will appear more or less along a line across the sky, that's what planets always do. That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the solar system in which the planets orbit around the Sun."

How to view the planetary parade

To watch this rare event, find a place away from city lights, like an open field or a hill. If the sky is clear, you can see most of the planets without a telescope, except for Neptune and Uranus, which need a telescope to be visible. Mars will be seen in the east, Jupiter and Uranus in the southeast, and Venus, Neptune, and Saturn in the west.

Why is February special for stargazers?

January was exciting due to the quadrantid meteor shower and the partial planetary alignment. However, February brings an even more special event with this rare planetary parade. This celestial show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for stargazers and space lovers, making February a truly remarkable month for skywatching.

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