Soon Earth’s inhabitants will see a parade of five planets and the Moon: when and how to watch

A rare planetary alignment involving Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars will be visible from Earth between March 25th and 28th, 2023. According to ScienceAlert, the planets will appear to line up with the Moon, offering a notable celestial event for observers. To best view this alignment, individuals should locate a location with minimal light pollution and clear weather conditions, ensuring a clear horizon.

NASA reports that the first planets, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter, will be visible shortly after sunset. Venus will appear as the brightest object, with Mercury and Jupiter positioned lower on the horizon and visible for less than an hour. Uranus will require the use of a telescope or binoculars to observe, appearing higher and to the left of Venus.

Mars will be visible as a reddish “star” in the southwest sky from March 25th to 27th, and again on March 28th under the Moon. While the scientific community does not utilize the term “planet parade,” the phenomenon refers to instances where planets appear aligned on the sky as viewed from Earth. It’s important to note that this alignment is a perceptual effect, as the planets’ orbits are in different planes and three-dimensional space.

Another similar alignment is anticipated at the end of April, involving Mercury, Uranus, Venus, and Mars. Observers will be able to watch the moon and planets.

Topics: #earth #moon #watch