London, England – stargazers will be in for a treat as seven planets are set to align in the night sky on the last day of February, creating a spectacular planetary parade. Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explains that a planetary parade occurs when multiple planets appear to line up in the night sky simultaneously.

This rare celestial phenomenon will feature Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune, with some planets being easier to spot than others. While Mercury, Neptune, and Saturn will be close to the horizon and may be challenging to see, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye. Brown notes that planetary alignments are not uncommon, but a parade of seven planets is a rare occurrence.

Last June, a similar parade took place with only two planets visible without special equipment. In January, six planets were visible, four of which could be seen with the naked eye. This month, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are easily visible, while Saturn and Mercury may be more difficult to spot. Uranus and Neptune can be glimpsed with the help of binoculars or telescopes.

Dr. Shyam Balaji, a researcher at King’s College London, explains that planetary alignments occur because the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in the same plane. The best time to see this alignment in the UK will be on February 28, shortly after sunset, when the planets will be positioned above the western horizon. Stargazers in Australia can look north after sunset, while those in the US are advised to head out about 30 minutes after sunset away from bright lights.

Stargazing apps can assist in locating the planets just after sunset. Brown suggests using a telescope to look for moon shapes, such as the moons of Jupiter or the illuminated part of Venus’s surface resembling a tiny crescent moon. The planets will continue to be visible through the spring, providing ample opportunities for stargazers to witness this unique celestial event.