Canadians will soon have the chance to spot a rare celestial event, as six planets line up in the evening sky in what astronomers call a “planetary parade,” which will shine brightest on Feb 28.
Stargazers will be able to spot Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune appearing across North America, as the planets start to move close together in the same arc of the night sky, according to NASA.
The rare celestial event will come to line up fully on Feb. 28.
Raymond Carlberg, emeritus astronomy professor at the University of Toronto, says the alignment “is a beautiful sight” of the solar system’s structure.
In Ontario, skywatchers may have the best views in northern and rural areas, where light pollution is lower and western horizons are less obstructed.
Urban viewers may still catch the brighter planets, but darker skies will offer a clearer look at the full lineup.
“If you can get to a reasonably dark site outside a city, even better if it’s on higher ground, you can see the plane of the solar system with planets spread out in a tilted line toward where the sun has just set,” Carlberg told Global News.
“It’s almost like you’re on a spaceship cruising through the solar system.”
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Anthony Farnell, chief meteorologist at Global News added that the best time to catch the planets with the naked eye will be when there is the least amount of moonlight.
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“The best viewing could be while the moon is only a sliver in the sky,” said Anthony Farnell, chief meteorologist at Global News.
Other regions, including the Prairies and parts of Atlantic Canada, may also catch part of the alignment, depending on cloud cover and local conditions.
Manitoba will be able to see all six of the planets as well, while Saskatchewan will be able to see three of the six planets: Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.
According to NASA, the best chance to view the planets is about an hour after sunset.
The alignment will remain visible for several evenings, over at least the next month, giving skywatchers multiple opportunities to see it.
Four of the six planets – Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn – are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a small telescope.
“If the weather remains clear, there will be a much greater chance of viewing the planetary parade,” said Ross Hull, a meteorologist with Global News.
With heavy snowfalls across Ontario, as well as parts of Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, viewing could be more difficult, as snow reflects artificial light back into the night sky.
Farnell explained how the recent Arctic High pressure could bring cold weather but also clear skies. However, “that high pressure system will also bring some brutally cold air, limiting how much time you can spend outside at night, especially this year with the extreme cold.”
However, Hull said cold winter air can often provide sharper views when skies clear.
Experts recommend dressing warmly, avoiding city lights when possible and looking west shortly after sunset to catch the rare celestial display.
The usual advice applies when observing celestial objects in the night sky:
- Find a location away from artificial city lights, which make it harder to see objects in the night sky.
- Allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness before observing.
- Keep in mind the display takes place near the horizon, so avoid tall buildings or trees that could block the view.
Carlberg added that there are many cellphone apps that show the positions of the planets.
“You just hold the cellphone up to the sky in front of you and it tells you what is there,” he said. “There are now small smart telescopes that do all the pointing for you.”
Carlberg notes that while planetary conjunctions happen every year, alignments involving so many planets are less common.
The planetary alignment will also be visible across much of the United States and parts of Mexico, wherever skies are clear and the western horizon is unobstructed.
A more extended alignment involving five or more planets will not occur again until 2040.
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