Stargazers can enjoy another noteworthy celestial event on Friday, Feb. 28 when all seven planets align and light up the night sky.
Also known as a “parade of planets,” a planetary alignment happens when planets “line up” on the same side of the sun, according to Space.com.
Seven planets align
According to StarWalk, seven planets will align on Feb. 28, a phenomenon that won’t happen again this decade.
The planets of Earth’s solar system never form a perfectly straight line in space, because their orbits aren’t on the same plane, StarWalk noted. But the planets sometimes gather closely on one side of the Sun and appear together in the sky.
During the next great alignment on Feb. 28, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars can be viewed simultaneously.
In January, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune were all visible. This month, Mercury gets in on the action.
“When people do look at these planets … they are acting as astronomers,” Queen’s University astrophysicist Nikhil Arora said in an interview with the Toronto Star. “That almost connects us back to the roots of astronomy. That’s how astronomy used to be … I personally find it a very profound thing.”
Space.com skywatching columnist Joe Rao wrote in a recent post, stargazers were able to enjoy a gathering of the five brightest planets, with two more — Mercury and Saturn — also appearing close together on Feb. 24.
Five planets visible to the naked eye
Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Saturn will be the easiest to spot, Rao noted, with Uranus and Neptune proving somewhat more elusive.
Anyone with a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon should be able to spot the five brightest planets.
See it while it lasts
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) noted on Instagram, the planetary alignment will last through the end of February.
“Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye, while Neptune and Uranus can be observed through a telescope,” the agency noted.
Clear skies are a must, so check the weather forecast before you go out for a chilly night of stargazing. The CSA offers the following tips to help you make the most of this phenomenon.
Stargazing tips
- Move away from city lights.
- Find a clear spot with an unobstructed view of the horizon.
- Check the weather forecast to avoid cloudy skies.
- Get in touch with your nearest astronomy club.
The CSA recommends using a telescope to view objects like planets, galaxies and nebulae. The agency also noted some of the bright dots in the sky are actually planets. One way to differentiate them from stars is to watch if they’re twinkling. Planets do not twinkle in the sky.
Identifying the stars
Gary Boyle, an astronomy educator, speaker and columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, urges stargazers to use an astronomy smartphone app to help determine the position of planets and stars. For iOS and iPhones, Boyle recommends the Sky Guide app.
“Today’s astronomy apps will help you identify the planets and learn the constellations,” Boyle said. “The night sky is a place of wonder that can be enjoyed all year round.”
Sky Map, available for Android devices, was originally developed as Google Sky Map. It’s now an open-sourced program.
The app Night Sky is available on the Apple app store.
Photography
While cellphone cameras are improving for nighttime use, Boyle recommends a DSLR camera to capture images of the planets.
Place the camera with a wide-angle lens on a sturdy tripod and attach a cable release. Adjust to ISO 1600 (light sensitivity) or higher.
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