Stargazers will have a chance to see six planets in alignment in late January — a so-called planetary parade that’s quite unique. Orbax, a physicist and science communicator for the Department of Physics in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph, says six planets — Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn — will appear in a tight batch in the sky, lying on the same line.
“We do see planetary alignments like this most years, but this one is unique because it’s happening at night when we’ll actually be able to see it, and early in the evening,” Orbax says.
According to Orbax, Canadians and some in the U.S. will have the best viewing of the planetary parade on Jan. 21, about an hour after sunset.
“Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn will all be visible to the unaided eye,” Orbax says. “Anyone with high-powered binoculars or a telescope might be able to see Uranus or Neptune.”
Orbax says people shouldn’t be concerned about missing the planetary parade on Jan. 21, since the planets will continue their alignment for a few days around that time.
A seventh planet, Mercury, will join the planetary parade in February.
Orbax is available for interviews.
Contact:
Orbax
orbax@uoguelph.ca