Seven planets to be visible in night sky for last time until 2040

This week, skywatchers are in for a delightful experience as seven planets will be visible in the night sky. The planets that will be making an appearance are Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn. This event is referred to as a 'planetary parade' and is quite rare. In fact, it will be the last opportunity to see all seven planets together until the year 2040. The best time to catch a glimpse of these celestial bodies will be just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Four of the planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars—can be seen with the naked eye. However, Saturn may be a bit challenging to spot as it will be low on the horizon. To see Uranus and Neptune, a telescope will be necessary. To maximize your chances of seeing the planets, it is important to find a location with a clear view of the horizon and minimal light pollution. Dr. Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, stated, 'There’s a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them. ' As the sun sets, both Saturn and Mercury will also be setting, making them particularly difficult to see. Dr. Bloomer added, 'You really only have a few minutes after sunset to catch them before they drop below the horizon. After that, you’ll still be able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for a much longer time. ' The planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in a relatively flat plane, similar to the way Earth does. They travel at different speeds and distances from the Sun, which means there are moments when they appear to line up from our perspective on Earth, creating a stunning visual display, even though the planets are separated by vast distances in space. Earlier this year, we had breathtaking views of the planets, such as in January when Mars was on the left, Jupiter was in the middle, and Saturn and Venus were on the right. This week, however, offers the best chance to see all of them together! Venus and Jupiter will be the easiest to spot due to their brightness, while Mars will have a distinct reddish hue. Dr. Bloomer explained that Uranus is technically visible with the naked eye, but you would need perfect eyesight and ideal conditions to see it. To improve your chances of spotting as many planets as possible, Dr. Bloomer advises heading to a location with a clear view of the horizon and minimal light pollution. He said, 'If you just pop out of your kitchen into your back garden, you will take time to adjust to the light levels. Give it a bit of time - your eyes take about half an hour to fully adjust. ' He also suggested avoiding looking at your phone, getting comfortable, and ensuring you have an unobstructed view of the horizon. While this is an exciting opportunity, Dr. Bloomer encourages people to make a habit of gazing at the night sky. He said, 'See how things change,' adding that observing the heavens is 'a chance to witness the ongoing mechanics of the solar system at work. ' As for the weather, it is currently a bit unpredictable, but clearer and calmer conditions are expected to develop later in the week. Tuesday evening will start with some clear spells, but clouds and rain will move in from the west later. On Wednesday night, the skies will be generally cloudier with showery rain at times. By Thursday, we can expect a drier, clearer view of the night sky. The earlier in the evening you look, the better, as mist and fog patches may develop later in the night. For Friday, high pressure is expected to dominate, keeping dry conditions for most with clear spells. Soon after sunset is the most favored time to look, as mist and fog patches may develop later. Have you seen the planetary parade? If you have, we would love to see your pictures and videos!