Stunning Sky Show as Five Planets Line Up on 28th
On March 28th 2023, people worldwide enjoyed a rare sight in the night sky – a lineup of five planets next to the moon. This event called a planetary parade, thrilled space lovers who captured stunning images of the celestial spectacle.
A planetary parade is when several planets appear close together in the sky. This time, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus could all be seen on the same night. Expert astrophysicist Cameron Hummels said the fantastic view would be visible a few more weeks after sunset.
Even without a telescope, most of the planets were easy to see. People in cities, the countryside, and the northern and southern hemispheres could enjoy the show. People looked toward the western horizon just after sunset to find the best view.
Venus, the brightest planet, was easy to spot. It is often called the “evening star” because it shines brightly. Mercury and Jupiter were also visible, but Uranus was harder to see without help from a telescope or binoculars.
Finally, Mars appeared higher in the sky with a distinct reddish color. Although this kind of planetary parade is unique, it is not rare. It happens every few years, but seeing all eight planets in a perfect line is almost impossible.
The last time this perfect alignment was witnessed was around AD 949, and the same can only be seen in May 2492. Such a planetary lineup was expected earlier this year, but the planets needed to be organized sequentially.
The last time such an arrangement was witnessed was in 2004, and it is expected to not occur again till 2040. After that, they will appear to be in proximity, but it’ll be hard for the night watchers to locate mercury because there’s a distinct possibility that it will be close to the sun.
