If you’re a fan of astronomy, you’ll be glad to hear that a rare astronomical event is set to grace the skies on the night of February 28. Seven planets in the solar system will line up and can be seen from the Netherlands in the evening twilight.
Seven planets, namely Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, will fall into alignment for a rare astronomical treat on Friday night. According to astronomers, the next time an event like this will happen will be in 2040.
All the planets in the solar system orbit the sun at different speeds and at different distances, but there are some rare instances where they all happen to be on the same side of the sun. When this occurs, they appear to be aligned to us from Earth, which is when people have the best chance of seeing a planetary parade like the one tonight.
The best time to see the planet parade will be just after sunset at around 6.18pm, NOS reports. While the phenomenon is exciting, astronomers warn that you might not be able to see all the planets at the same time with the naked eye.
To see as many planets as possible, amateur astronomer Esther Hanko, suggests going somewhere with an unobstructed view of the horizon. “You need an area with a very wide view to the east, south and west. That's best," Hanko told NOS.
Venus, Mars and Jupiter are the planets that you’re most likely to spot with the naked eye. Looking to the west, the brightest object in the sky after sunset will be Venus. Skygazers can look directly above to spot Jupiter, and a bit to the east of that, the red glow of Mars can be seen. Uranus, which will be just west of Jupiter, is so far away that viewers will need binoculars or a telescope to see it.
Saturn, Mercury and Neptune will be very close to the horizon in the west, making it harder to see with the naked eye. Binoculars or even a telescope will give you a clearer view of these planets.
Heading to a dark place away from the bright lights of the cities, such as a national park, will give you the best chance of seeing the planet parade in the Netherlands. You could also head to an observatory. The Dark Sky Park De Boschplaat in Terschelling is set to have a good view of the astronomical event.
So far, the weather is predicted to be cold, with fog expected in certain areas, so anyone hoping to get a glimpse of the phenomenon should stay bundled up and keep an eye on the sky for a clear moment.