Tonight the planets align, this is how you can see them...
The stars align tonight for a rare planetary alignment called the ‘Great Planet Parade.’
FILE: Graphic showing the Sun and the planets of the Solar System Picture: NASA/JPL via Wikimedia Commons
702’s John Perlman speaks with Moumita Aich, Head of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome.
Listen below:
Tonight, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will briefly align in the sky for the ‘Great Planet Parade.’
This is a rare phenomenon that will only happen again in 15 years.
The planetary alignment started in January, with Mercury being the final planet to join the parade tonight.
Weather permitting, this phenomenon will be visible across the world although only four planets - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars – will be visible to the naked eye.
“If you have a small telescope or powerful binoculars you might be able to see Uranus and Neptune as well.”
- Moumita Aich, Head of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome
Saturn and Mercury will set shortly after sunset and no longer be visible, but the other planets will remain for a while.
If you are in Johannesburg, you will need to look in a Northwest direction around sunset, which is at 18:39.
You will be able to tell you are looking at planets as unlike stars they will not twinkle.
Venus and Jupiter can be identified because they are so bright, and Mars will have a reddish colour.
Aich says Jupiter will be just below Orion constellation in the sky and Venus will be closer to the horizon.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.