A rare alignment of seven planets will be visible in the night sky this week, with Mercury joining the lineup at dusk. The celestial event is not mystical or particularly rare, according to Gerard van Belle, director of science at Lowell Observatory. Instead, it’s a supermoon-like occurrence that makes for a great excuse to enjoy the night sky.
The alignment occurs when all seven planets – Earth’s neighbors – fall within our line of sight at sunset. This happens because they orbit the sun in the same plane, creating a path known as the ecliptic. The alignment is visible from mostly anywhere on Earth, making it easy for stargazers to spot the planets.
Notably, Uranus and Neptune require telescopes to see. However, Mercury and Saturn can be spotted with the naked eye, while Venus shines bright like a beacon in the western sky. Jupiter appears almost directly overhead, its pinkish tone casting a golden hue on Mars due to their recent close encounter. Even if all planets aren’t visible without binoculars or telescopes, stargazing is still highly recommended during this beautiful winter season.
Astronomers suggest using software like Stellarium to determine the best viewing time and location for each planet. Stargazers can find a dark spot with a clear view of the western horizon to catch the parade, which will end when Saturn disappears into daytime skies at the end of the month.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/science/astronomy-planets-stargazing.html