A unique visual convergence... a rare alignment of 6 planets next Saturday
Astronomers and stargazers will witness a rare astronomical phenomenon known as the "planetary display" at the end of February, where six planets from the solar system will align in a unique visual convergence visible from most parts of the Earth. According to data from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the phenomenon will peak on Saturday, February 28, when the planets Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will appear in close formation across the night sky. NASA described this event as one of the most prominent astronomical phenomena of the year, as the anticipated alignment brings together the planets Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, as well as Uranus and Neptune, in a celestial tableau that stretches across the horizon and reaches its peak of beauty next Saturday evening. This phenomenon, also known as "planetary alignment," occurs when a group of planets lies on one side of the sun from the perspective of an observer on Earth.
NASA explains that the crucial factor for successful observation is the angle of elevation; for an observer to clearly see any celestial object, they must be at least 10 degrees above the horizon. This is because closer to the horizon, the Earth's lower atmosphere increases its effect, scattering light and weakening visibility, especially during the twilight immediately following sunset. According to astronomers, the phenomenon can be seen 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. Astronomers explained that the planets appear to be aligned because they orbit the sun in a relatively flat path known as the ecliptic. Despite the planets appearing close together in the sky, scientists emphasize that this is merely an optical illusion, as the planets are actually separated by vast distances ranging from millions to billions of kilometers in deep space. This phenomenon does not occur regularly, and astronomers predict that the next similar alignment after this year will be on September 8, 2034, with seven planets, and then on August 15, 2040, with five planets.
0 Comments