Planetary parade

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A seven-planet planetary parade seen from France in 2022 Planetary alignment.jpg
A seven-planet planetary parade seen from France in 2022
A simulation of the same 2022 parade Planetenkonstellation-24062022.png
A simulation of the same 2022 parade

In astronomy, a planetary parade, also known as a planetary alignment or planetary procession, occurs when multiple planets in the Solar System appear close together in the night sky, visible at the same time from Earth. However, a planetary parade is not a true alignment in space, but rather an apparent alignment that is the result of the planets' orbital positions relative to viewpoint of Earth-bound observers lying in an arc across the sky. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Planetary parades of three, four or five planets are commonplace events, but larger planetary parades are less frequent. [6] Because the motions of planets are predictable, the timing of planetary parades past and future can be easily calculated across long time periods.

Notable planetary parades

2025 planetary parade

Two large planetary parades will occur in 2025, aligning six and seven planets respectively.

The ongoing planetary alignment is the first phase of this astronomical event in 2025, which began on 21 January and ends on 21 February 2025. [7] During this phase Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn will remain visible in the night sky. [8]

The second phase of this astronomical event is predicted to occur on 28 February 2025 with seven planets. The planet Mercury will join with six other planets which were visible during the first phase. [9]

2040 planetary parade

Following the 2025 parade, the next six-planet parade will not occur until 2040. [6] [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cuthbertson, Anthony (3 June 2024). "Six planets will align tonight in rare 'planetary parade'". The Independent. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Wattles, Jackie (24 March 2023). "A stunning lineup of five planets will decorate the night sky". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Mathewson, Samantha (24 January 2025). "Watch 'planetary parade' online for free on Jan. 25". Space.com. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Singh, Maanvi (28 March 2023). "Five planets line up to put on celestial show for skywatchers tonight". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Miller, Katrina (2025-02-24). "A Parade of Planets Is Marching Through the Night Sky". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  6. 1 2 "Planetary parade: Mercury falls into line for rare seven-planet alignment". The Guardian. 2025-02-28. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  7. ↑ Griffin, Krys'tal (21 January 2025). "A planetary alignment will occur on Jan. 21. What will be visible and how to see it". Yahoo News. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Stock, Petra (21 January 2025). "Planet parade: Stargazers to see almost all planets align in the night sky at the same time in rare planetary alignment". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  9. ↑ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (19 January 2025). "Planetary alignment 2025: This is what it really means when seven planets line up in the sky". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Planetary parade across UK skies today won't occur again until 2040". The Independent. 2025-02-28. Retrieved 2025-03-01.


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