Six planets to align in the night sky: These Indian cities will see rare event

Skywatchers can look forward to a unique spectacle as six planets start to draw closer together in what is referred to as a planetary alignment. The planets have been moving closer to one another, with Saturn and Venus now just a few finger’s widths apart following their conjunction last week.

Alignments of planets such as this are quite uncommon, providing a singular chance for both astronomy lovers and casual observers. While the planets may not create a flawlessly straight line, their concurrent presence in one region of the sky will create a breathtaking sight.

The six planets that are expected to align are Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. Although these planets will appear in an imperfect alignment, they continue to be millions of kilometres apart in the expanse of space. Indeed, the unusual alignment will be observable throughout India, subject to weather and cloud conditions. Nearly every city in India will have the chance to witness the unusual planetary alignment.

Though you can observe the four planets — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn — without any equipment, a telescope is necessary to view Neptune and Uranus as they are very faint.

The alignment results from Earth’s location in its orbit. Nasa has stated that Mars was at “opposition” in January, a time when the planet is positioned directly opposite to Earth from the Sun, creating a straight alignment. This is approximately when the planet reaches its nearest point to Earth, causing it to look its largest and most radiant.

Researchers globally have continuously been intrigued by the Moon’s formation and the factors that influenced its evolution. As major missions approach the Moon, a recent study reveals insights into its origin.