In an uncommon lineup, five planets come together for a month-long cosmic display
New Delhi: In yet another treat for sky-watchers, five planets of our solar system will come together in an uncommon lineup until February 20 which will be visible to the naked eye.
Early risers will have a good chance of seeing five planets simultaneously in the pre-dawn sky including- Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. This phenomenon is due to the timing of the planets orbiting the sun that will put them into a quintet.
The last appearance on one nighttime stage was experienced in December 2004 and January 2005. The lineup is expected to occur again in late July through mid-August. However, according to NASA, Mercury and Venus won't be easily visible from northern latitudes.
As the space agency explains, if one goes outside during the five-planet display when the weather conditions are favourable (read clear sky) then one should be able to see Jupiter rising in the evening, then Mars after midnight, followed by Saturn, Venus, and finally Mercury.
All of the five planets will be visible from southeast to southwest between 6-6:30 am local time. Earth's moon also joins the cosmic display from January 23 to February 7. In that phase, it will shift from the west-northwest to east-southeast and will be visible near the five planets and some stars.
Furthermore, the morning view of the moon will switch from right of Jupiter to its left during the day and night between January 27 and 28. On February 1, the moon will get closer to Mars followed by Saturn on February 3. On February 6, the moon, Mercury and dazzling Venus will appear in a triangular formation before sunrise.
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