Tonight, February 28, 2025, offers a rare celestial event: a "planetary parade" featuring seven planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—aligned across the night sky. This remarkable alignment won't occur again until 2040.
For observers in north Texas, the optimal viewing time is just after sunset at 6:22 PM CST.
Here's what to expect:
Mercury and Saturn: These planets will appear low on the western horizon shortly after sunset. Due to their proximity to the sun, they may be challenging to spot and might require binoculars.
Venus: The brightest of the group, Venus will be easily visible higher in the western sky.
Mars: Recognizable by its reddish hue, Mars will be positioned higher in the eastern sky.
Jupiter: This gas giant will be visible without special equipment as a bright point of light in the southern sky.
Uranus and Neptune: These distant planets require a telescope or strong binoculars to observe and will be located between Venus and Mars.
The alignment coincides with a new moon, providing darker skies that enhance the visibility of these celestial bodies. Remember, the window for viewing all seven planets simultaneously is brief, as Mercury and Saturn will set approximately an hour and a half after sunset.
Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness a seven-planet alignment, a phenomenon that won't grace our skies again for another 15 years.
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