In the last days of March 2023, lovers of astronomical events will enjoy a parade of planets: Jupiter, Mercury, Venus,
The position of the planets after sunset on March 28 when observed at the latitude and longitude of Moscow. Visualization: Stellarium
What is a parade of planets?
The alignment of the planets is a colloquial term foran astronomical event called the planetary alignment. This term is used for two kinds of events. The first is when the planets of the solar system line up when viewed from above. The second is when the planets are concentrated for the observer in a narrow region of the sky and they can be simultaneously observed from the Earth.
The planets form a line in the night sky, but it doesn'tperfectly straight. All planets revolve around the Sun in almost the same plane. As a result, when viewed from Earth, the other planets appear to move along the ecliptic, the Sun's annual path across the sky.
Conventionally, there are several types of alignments, depending on the number of planets that are visible in the night sky:
- mini planetary alignment (3 planets);
- small parade of planets (4 planets);
- a large parade of planets (5 or 6 planets);
- full alignment of the planets (all planets in the solar system).
Complete planetary alignment is extremely rare. The last time it happened was in 1982, and the next time it will be only in 2161.
A simplified diagram of the location of the planets of the solar system on March 28, 2023. Image created using theplanetstoday.com service
How to prepare and where to watch?
Some of the planets are bright enough tocould be seen with the naked eye even in conditions of not very strong urban illumination. For example, it will be easiest to notice Venus in the sky - this is one of the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. But other planets will be much harder to see.
Therefore, for optimal observations, astronomersIt is recommended to go out of town, to a place where the light of night lights will not interfere with admiring the beauty of the night after sunset. Another important condition: the western horizon must be open for observation.
Mars and Venus will rise high enough abovehorizon, but Jupiter and Mercury will be visible just after sunset near the earth itself. Therefore, mountains, buildings or forest will help to interfere with observations. Ideal: coastline facing West, in which case nothing (except the weather) will interfere with observations.
Mars and Venus will be clearly visible to the naked eyewith the eye, but to see the twinkling Mercury and dim Jupiter in detail, it is better to use binoculars or a telescope. And Uranus is always out of sight with the naked eye, so to observe all five planets you will need optical magnification.
Remember about safety: Mercury and Jupiter are very close to the edge of sunset, so you need to carefully use optical instruments after the Sun disappears below the horizon.
When and where to look?
Soon after the sun goes downhorizon, look west. Low in the sky, where the Sun has just set, two planets Jupiter and Mercury will appear. Both planets will shine quite brightly, with Mercury at magnitude -1.4, which is only slightly dimmer than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Jupiter will appear even more dazzling at magnitude -2.1, which is twice as bright as Mercury.
Despite the brightness, the planets can be trickycatch due to residual sunlight, but binoculars can come to the rescue. Mercury will be located slightly to the right and above Jupiter, while both planets will be at a visual distance of a little more than the width of one finger of an outstretched hand. Both planets will disappear below the horizon less than an hour after sunset. To observe Jupiter alone without a bright sunset glow, the previous nights are better suited - it will be higher in the sky. On the contrary, Mercury will move away from the Sun and can be searched after March 28.
Mercury and Jupiter at sunset on March 28 when observed at the latitude and longitude of Moscow. Visualization: Stellarium
The brightest planet of the five: Venus.It is easy to find in the starry sky; you can use the constellation Aries as a guide. The planets will be on an imaginary line that can be drawn from Jupiter and Mercury towards the Moon.
The position of the planets after sunset on March 28 when observed at the latitude and longitude of Moscow. Visualization: Stellarium
If you use binoculars very close to Venusdim Uranus can be seen. You need to look for a faint star, which is distinguished by a pale greenish tint. It is best to observe this planet after the sunset has completely faded, and Jupiter and Mercury will disappear beyond the horizon: this way there will be less light in the sky.
Venus and Uranus in the night sky March 28. Visualization: Stellarium
Finally, the fifth planet on the list is Mars.It will be easy to find: this planet will shine bright red in the southwest sky close to the Moon. From March 25 to March 27, the planet should be looked for a little to the left of the natural satellite of the Earth, and after that - below it.
Ancient astrologers attributed the parades of the planetsimportant values and associated various natural disasters with them. Modern science refutes such ideas, but still do not forget that this phenomenon is an additional opportunity to admire the beauty of the starry sky. If the weather gets in the way of observations, this year there will be another chance: the alignment of the less bright five - Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn - can be observed in mid-June.
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