Seven planets of our solar system will align in the skies over Germany on February 28, and four will be visible to the naked eye. Here’s how to spot them:
On Friday evening, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury and Saturn will appear aligned in the sky over Germany.
During the so-called “planetary parade”, four planets - Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury - will be visible to the naked eye. Stargazers will be able to see Uranus and Neptune with a telescope, but Saturn will be harder to spot, sitting low on the horizon.
Anyone eager to catch a glimpse of the parade should look up as soon as the sun has set, after which there will only be a few minutes before several of the planets drop out of view below the horizon.
Tonight, twilight will begin at 5.43pm in Berlin, 5.54pm in Hamburg, 5.56pm in Munich, 6.05pm in Frankfurt and Stuttgart and 6.06 pm in Cologne.
Looking from east to west, you will be able to see Mercury and Saturn low down on the horizon. Venus will shine brightly above them, and looking westward with a telescope, you’ll be able to see Neptune and Uranus. Further west, you’ll see Jupiter shining brightly and the red, pinkish glow of Mars.
The planets of our solar system orbit at different speeds and distances from the sun. However, there are moments when they align in the sky from our perspective.
The next planetary parade is expected in 2040, so it’s well worth pausing to look up this evening, to revel in a reassuring sense of insignificance.
Thumb image credit: buradaki / Shutterstock.com