Planets Align in the Sky During Planetary Parade

Context: Recently, on 28th February, seven planets lined up for a rare “planetary parade”.

About Planetary Parade

It is an astronomical event where multiple planets appear to line up in the night sky in the order of their distance from the Sun.

Why Do Planetary Parades Occur?

• Planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun but remain nearly in the same plane (ecliptic plane).
• The planets don’t actually align in space but appear so from Earth due to their positions in their orbits.
• As they revolve, sometimes multiple planets appear in the same region of the sky when viewed from Earth.

Frequency of Planetary Parades

• Three or Four-Planet Parades: These occur once every few years and are relatively common.
• Seven or Eight-Planet Parades: Very rare, occurring only once in several decades.

The February 28, 2024 Event

• Planets Involved: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune (total 7 planets).
• Next Similar Event: The next major planetary parade is expected in 2040, involving six planets.

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