By Dr. S.N. Prasad
The popular social media is awash with grotesquely exaggerated and sanitised accounts of something spectacular, popularly described as a rare ‘alignment’ and ‘parade’ of planets, happening in the night sky this month, especially on Jan. 25.
In one such video report making the rounds of WhatsApp, I heard with a combination of dismay and amusement the following audio description against the backdrop of colourful visuals that are mostly an artist’s concoction:
“25th of January 2025 is a date humanity will never forget. On this night, all seven planets of our solar system will align and be visible in the sky. On Jan 25th, one of the rarest astronomical event is going to happen in the sky, and it is going to be visible for almost every part of the world — a very rare astronomical event called ‘parade of planets’ is going to happen where at least six planets of the solar system named Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are going to be visible from Earth. But around the world it will be visible on different timings. Here is the location and their timings… New Delhi, India, 5.37 pm*… Save this. You will have the best chance to spot this view right after the sunset. So, make sure you will know your local sunset timing… So, make sure you will follow ‘Advancible and be the advanced version of yourself’.
(*Actually, the Sun sets only after this time in New Delhi and in most other parts of India.)
Now, the truth behind this hype: No earth-shaking astronomical event is expected to happen this month, or in the near future, including Jan. 25 this year.
The so-called ‘alignment’ or ‘parade’ of planets is merely the appearance of (all or most of) the planets of the solar system after sunset and before the next sunrise, within a span of a few hours, in the next few weeks.
This is by no means rare or unusual. In fact, it is a recurring phenomenon. It is not something humanity needs to be particularly interested in.
The planets certainly do not appear ‘aligned’ when seen in the sky; they may at best appear to do so on a (two dimensional) map. Any geometrical alignment of the planets at any time in three-dimensional space is a virtual impossibility.
What really happens in astronomical terms is that the planets are seen within a narrow imaginary plane of the sky that contains the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. It is also the apparent path of the Sun across the sky as seen from the Earth.
Now, a few highlights that can make a view of the night sky after sunset during the next few weeks truly memorable:
The planets can all be seen within a span of a few hours. Venus, Jupiter and Mars are very bright and readily recognisable. Mars is especially bright and is nearly in opposition to the Sun. Saturn stands out because of its close visual proximity to Venus, the two said to be in conjunction.
While Uranus and Neptune can only be observed with a telescope, Mercury can be challenging even at the best of times. The planets can be seen in a star-studded breathtakingly beautiful winter night sky, making the experience all the more unforgettable.
[The author is an Amateur Astronomer, former Principal & Professor of Physics, RIE (NCERT) Mysuru]
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