This week, don’t forget to look up to the sky as a beautiful spectacle of an epic planetary alignment is sure to greet you! Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, are aligning next to each other, forming a planetary quartet. Excited to find out more? Read the article to know all about this cosmic treat that has captured the attention of many.
Stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts are in for a major treat this week! Do you know why? This is because, in a special cosmic treat, four planets will align in the sky this week. The four planets, i.e., Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, will align in the sky, creating a magnificent parade that you wouldn’t want to miss. The spectacular quartet across the dazzling predawn sky will be visible to the naked eye. This epic planetary alignment will be visible throughout April.
This will not only be a sight to behold for stargazers with telescopes or binoculars but also for every common person. So, let’s get to know more.
April has brought a cosmic delight for all! In an epic and wondrous planetary alignment, the sky will have a belt of planets featuring Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter, all visibly lined up one after the other from Earth. The planets will appear like dazzling stars in a formation, and this phenomenon is known as the ‘planetary parade.’
According to astronomy, a ‘planetary parade’ is used to denote a cosmic event when planets line up in a row in the sky in the same area as seen from the Earth. This alignment is all about visual perspective. Every planet has a different orbit, and therefore, they can never appear in a proper straight line when looking at it from the top of the solar system. But, when seen from the perspective of the Earth, they appear to be in a row.
The three planets, i.e., Venus, Saturn, and Mars, had gathered together in the Northern Hemisphere since March 2022. Jupiter aligned with the other three planets on 17th April 2022. From the beginning of April, Venus, Mars, and Saturn were visible in the early morning sky. Jupiter has now joined the three planets, and they will appear in a line for the rest of April. According to NASA, if the conditions are right, you can see the planets in a line without the need for telescopes.
How Does A Planetary Alignment Happen?
Planetary alignments occur when the planets’ orbital paths bring them to the same region of the sky when viewed from the Earth. You should know that even though these planetary alignments don’t occur frequently, they are not considered rare. The current celestial event would be quite similar to the 2020 event, which was also visible to the naked eye. Planetary alignments of a similar sort happened in 2016 as well. Astronomers refer to this type of epic planetary alignment as a conjunction. Also, it is believed that this will be the closest that Jupiter and Venus have appeared since November 2019.
When Can You See The Epic Planetary Alignment?
The celestial enthusiasts can watch this marvelous sky parade in the wee hours of the morning in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be visible for about an hour before sunrise on 23rd April 2022. The Moon is also supposed to join this alignment. This is why the alignment will get even better next week. The Moon will move along with the other planets from 23rd April to 29th April, while the others will remain in the line till early July. From the middle of June, Mercury will also join this club.
Additionally, Uranus and Neptune will also be in the field of view in the Northern Hemisphere during the alignment. Uranus can be seen by the naked eye in regions with less light pollution and a dark sky. To observe it better, using binoculars can be a good option. On the other hand, Neptune will be hidden in plain sight near the bottom of the alignment. It will be challenging to spot it as the planet will be too dim. Therefore, you will require a telescope to view Neptune. It will appear as a blue dot between Venus and Jupiter.
If the skies are free of clouds, the planets will be visible and celestial enthusiasts can catch a glimpse of the epic planetary alignment without a telescope. The visibility also depends on the pollution levels of the region. When looking at the planets, remember that Venus will be brightest with a shining bright white light; on the other hand, Jupiter will be the second brightest, and it will be the lowest and leftmost in the sky. Mars will be distinct as it will appear bright orange to the naked eye. Saturn will be fainter than the other three.
Essential Things to Remember When Watching The Planetary Alignment
When it comes to identifying planets with a telescope or high-power binoculars, remember that planets can be identified due to their lack of twinkling. Planets give out constant light, but they do not twinkle; only stars twinkle.
You must head out to an open area with low light pollution. Less ambient lights, whether vehicular or lights in the buildings nearby are needed so that the celestial bodies can appear brighter in the sky. Going to a secluded place like a hilltop or the terrace where no tall buildings are around will be ideal for gazing at the sky.
If you are curious to see this epic planetary alignment this week, you should head out an hour before sunrise and look towards the Southeast and a little low on the horizon.
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