the night of March 28 for the first time in 2023 five planets align; Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars, these can be seen simultaneously from Earth. It is a strange phenomenon, which, according to NASA, will depend on the time that each planet late to complete their orbits close to the Sun.
Those who will be seen closest to the horizon will be Mercury and Jupiterin the constellation of Pisces; Uranus it will be less bright and more difficult to detect. Martefor his part, it will be higher in the sky and will have a reddish glow. Although the planets aligned on march 25the best day to appreciate the cosmic spectacle is this Tuesday.
necessary binoculars
Those who want to appreciate space will have to use telescopes. Some planets will be easier to locate, while others will be harder to spot. To increase the probability of observationyou will have to go to a place with dark skies before sunset.
How to see the lineup
The best to see the “planetary alignment” is to flee from light pollution. Although cloudy skies will make it difficult to see this phenomenon. However, this week several opportunities to see the moment where the planets align.
These are the next planetary alignments visible from Earth:
- March 28: one Jupiter’s grand early alignmentMercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars within a 50 degree sector of the sky
- April 11: one small evening alignment of MercuryUranus, Venus and Mars within a 35 degree sector of the sky
- April 24: one little evening lineup Mercury, Uranus, Venus and Mars within a 40 degree sector of the sky
- May 29: one little morning lineup of Uranus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn within a 70 degree sector of the sky
- June 17: one big morning lineup Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn within a 95 degree sector of the sky
- July 26: an evening mini lineup of Mercury, Venus and Mars within a 15 degree sector of the sky
- August 24: at sunset, a mini Mercury setting alignment and Mars and Saturn rising within a 175 degree sector of the sky; later at night, a small lineup of Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn within an 80 degree sector of the sky.
For the first time in the current millennium
The phenomenon is defined as “an astronomical circumstance that occurs when the planets approach one side of the Sun at the same time, as seen from above the Solar System”. Some people consider that the planets of the Soler System can form a straight line as seen from the Sun. Although, the planets cannot achieve a complete alignment in three dimensions. Even reaching create a looser grouping into a quadrant, which will bring together for the first time in just 7 times the current millennial.