Unveil the rare alignment of 7 planets!

In early 2025, a rare celestial event known as a "planetary parade" occurred, where seven planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—appeared aligned in the night sky. This alignment was visible to the naked eye or with modest telescopic aid during January and February, with Mercury joining for a single night in late February to complete the seven-planet lineup.

Key Details About the Event:

• Visibility: The brighter planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) were visible without equipment, while Uranus and Neptune required binoculars or a telescope due to their faintness.
• Scientific Opportunities: Such alignments are valuable for studying planetary dynamics and conducting space exploration. For example, NASA's Voyager missions utilized a similar alignment in 1977 to explore multiple planets efficiently.
• Cultural and Historical Significance: Historically, planetary alignments have inspired myths and prophecies. Modern astronomy focuses on their scientific potential rather than any supposed influence on Earth.

Observational Highlights:

• The alignment coincided with a New Moon on February 28, 2025, providing ideal conditions for observing faint planets like Uranus and Neptune.
• Astrophotographer Josh Dury captured a groundbreaking composite image of all seven planets aligned in the sky from Somerset, UK. This photo marked one of the first terrestrial captures of such an event.

While true spatial alignment of planets is impossible due to their tilted orbits, this visual phenomenon remains a rare and awe-inspiring event. The next seven-planet alignment is expected in 2040.