Which planets are aligned tonight, how often do they align and when wast the last time 5 planets aligned?
There is still time to catch the five planet alignment this week. We took a look at how often these events occur and more.
Lovers of the night sky have witnessed something pretty special this week: a planetary alignment. This five-planet show featured appearances from Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars.
It is not often that five planets align so that they can all be seen from earth, and those who could catch a glimpse said the sight did not disappoint. While the main event has now passed, the planets will continue to be seen (in a more scattered manner) over the next two days as well.
How often do they align?
While infrequent, planetary alignments are not that rare. The last time all five planets could be spotted together was June 2022, according to Axios. Beck Andrew Salgado, writing for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, also noted that these events tend to happen every two years or so. However, depending on where you are on earth, the views may or may not be able to be seen.
This may interest you: Planet alignment: what time is it, what does it look like and where to see the planetary parade tonight
What can be seen on 29/30 March?
Physics professor Don Smith of Guilford College, noted that Venus will be the “easiest planet to see” since it is “the brightest of the bunch.” For those hoping to catch a view of Uranus, Smith warns that a telescope will be needed. Fans of the solar system’s biggest planet, Jupiter, should be aware that the red planet will set by 8:20 pm ET, so getting out earlier will be critical.