Seven planets will be visible at the same time in February. A similar alignment only happens again in 2492.
The year 2025 promises to be unforgettable for astronomy lovers, who are preparing to observe different planetary alignments. The biggest will take place February 28a day on which seven planets in the Solar System will be visible at the same time.
“Planetary alignment” is not just an astronomical phenomenon, but also a visual effect. This is because the planets are not actually arranged in a straight line: they are only perceived that way when observed from Earth.
The explanation for this effect lies in the fact that the planets orbit around the Sun, maintaining the trajectory marked by the star’s gravitational force. This imaginary line is known as “ecliptic” and explains why the planets appear to get closer, when in fact they are far apart.
“This is why we sometimes observe that planets appear to approach each other in the sky, as we see them along a line as they circle the cosmic race track,” explains NASA.
These planetary conjunctions are more common when up to six planets are involved, as will happen in January and August this year. The planets always appear along a line in the sky, so the “alignment” is not special.
What is unusual is when there is a perception of alignment with seven planets visible at the same time. This is what will happen on February 28th and will not happen again until the year 2492.
“It is less common to see four or five bright planets at the same time, which does not happen every year. It’s a’parade of planets‘? It’s not a technical term in astronomy, so call it whatever you want,” NASA writes on its website.
Alignments for 2025
Em January the first of three alignments planned for 2025 takes place. On the night of the 21st of this month, it will be possible to see four planets at the same time in the sky, following an imaginary line. Venus and Saturn will be visually very close and will be seen in the southwest sky in the early evening hours, with Jupiter high in the sky and Mars to the east.
Mars is the only planet that will actually be opposite the Sun in relation to the Earth, forming a straight line, a phenomenon that happens every two years. Uranus and Neptune will also be aligned, but a telescope will be needed to identify them.
On February 28, a seventh planet, Mercury, will appear at the same time in the sky. Meanwhile, on August 11th, it will be possible to observe up to six planets: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn. In both cases, it will be necessary to use a telescope to identify all the celestial bodies.
