A rare celestial event is occurring this week where five planets will appear diagonally in our night sky.
Called a “quirk of the universe” by Swinburne University research fellow Dr. Alan Duffy, the planets Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter will appear in a diagonal line on January 20 until February 20.
The phenomenon only occurs every 10 years or so. Jupiter will be the first to be visible followed by Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. Venus will shine the brightest. Definitely gaze up at the sky before dawn but remember that the exact timing depends on where you live. Also keep in mind that clouds may be a factor in visibility.
Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter are referred to as bright planets because they can be seen by the naked eye. The last time these planets aligned was in December of 2004. You may be able to see these planets align again in August. However, it may be difficult to catch Mercury and Venus if you’re in the northern hemisphere.
This is an exciting time for early bird stargazers. Will you be taking a look?
Source: Huffington Post
