Summary:
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You’ll see the whole solar system in the night sky on Thursday.
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Mercury and Venus will be hard to see from the UK because they are so low in the sky.
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The brightest stars will be Saturn and Jupiter, while Mars will be a salmon-coloured red.
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The southwest of England and the south and west of Wales are expected to have the clearest skies.
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In June, a rare alignment of the planets made it possible to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
You’ll see the whole solar system in the night sky on Thursday.
Five should be visible without a telescope, but binoculars are recommended for viewing Uranus and Neptune, the two that are the farthest away.
Mercury and Venus will be hard to see from the UK because they are so low in the sky.
Just after sunset is the finest time to view the show.
The likelihood that all the planets will appear in a vertical line rising into the sky is higher for people who live further south, such as in southern Europe or close to the equator.
Further south, Mercury will also be easier to see.
Planets do not shine like stars. The brightest stars will be Saturn and Jupiter, while Mars will be a salmon-colored red.
“From the UK to around 2032, Mars is at its best.” It will be a while before we see this one again. “Therefore, it is worth looking at now,” BBC News quoted Dr. Robert Massy of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Dr. Massy urges sky-watchers to look for a clear vantage point just after sunset to look toward the southwest horizon.
Venus will be difficult to see from the UK because it will be low in the southwest and close to the horizon.
The next brightest planet, Jupiter, should be seen higher in the sky, where Saturn is expected to be visible.
Dr. Massy says that anyone with a telescope should be able to see details like Jupiter’s moons and maybe cloud systems or dark spots on Jupiter and Mars.
The southwest of England and the south and west of Wales are expected to have the clearest skies. However, clouds may obstruct the view in Scotland and the northern parts of England.
In June, a rare alignment of the planets made it possible to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
