Seven planets align visibly worldwide without telescopes
A rare alignment of seven planets is set to be visible to the naked eye across the globe.
TroibNews 
An extraordinary astronomical event will take place on Friday evening: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will nearly align in the sky, creating a "seven-planet alignment" observable from Earth.
This alignment, a result of the planets' orbital paths converging by chance, is the most precise seen in 300 years, covering a span of 117°.
In the Northern Hemisphere, three of the most luminous planets—Jupiter, Venus, and Mars—will be visible to the naked eye.
The occurrence is attributed to the planets' distinctive arrangement within our solar system. Although their orbits are elliptical, they generally inhabit the same plane, which allows them to align from Earth’s viewpoint at specific intervals.
This event is uncommon not only because the planets appear close together but also because they align within a narrow timeframe. The last instance of such a precise alignment occurred over three centuries ago, and the next one won't happen for quite a while.
Observers in much of the Northern Hemisphere will be able to witness the alignment without any special equipment. About 30 minutes after sunset, bright Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible in the western sky. The planets will gradually come into alignment, providing a stunning view.
Optimal visibility will be in locations with clear skies and low light pollution. In urban areas, spotting all the planets may be challenging, but Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune can still be observed using a telescope.
Whether with binoculars, a telescope, or simply your own eyes, this seven-planet alignment presents an exceptional opportunity to experience a phenomenon that occurs only once every few centuries, serving as a reminder of the magnificent wonders of our solar system.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
This alignment, a result of the planets' orbital paths converging by chance, is the most precise seen in 300 years, covering a span of 117°.
In the Northern Hemisphere, three of the most luminous planets—Jupiter, Venus, and Mars—will be visible to the naked eye.
The occurrence is attributed to the planets' distinctive arrangement within our solar system. Although their orbits are elliptical, they generally inhabit the same plane, which allows them to align from Earth’s viewpoint at specific intervals.
This event is uncommon not only because the planets appear close together but also because they align within a narrow timeframe. The last instance of such a precise alignment occurred over three centuries ago, and the next one won't happen for quite a while.
Observers in much of the Northern Hemisphere will be able to witness the alignment without any special equipment. About 30 minutes after sunset, bright Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible in the western sky. The planets will gradually come into alignment, providing a stunning view.
Optimal visibility will be in locations with clear skies and low light pollution. In urban areas, spotting all the planets may be challenging, but Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune can still be observed using a telescope.
Whether with binoculars, a telescope, or simply your own eyes, this seven-planet alignment presents an exceptional opportunity to experience a phenomenon that occurs only once every few centuries, serving as a reminder of the magnificent wonders of our solar system.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
