This article is available in audio format, please click on the play icon below to listen. 

One last chance to see the planetary parade.

On the evening of February 28, 2025, a rare celestial event will occur: all seven planets of our solar system—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will be simultaneously visible in the night sky. This phenomenon, often referred to as a “planetary parade,” happens when the planets align on the same side of the Sun as viewed from Earth. 

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/planetary-alignment-2025

Looking above Embsay,  the best time to observe this alignment will be just after sunset. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope due to their faintness. Jupiter will set around 6:30 PM GMT, and Mercury will dip below the horizon by 7:00 PM GMT, so it’s advisable to begin your observation shortly after sunset.  If you are going to use binoculars PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE SUN SETS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuXRMRmiQRM
(sorry about the advert embedded in this clip!)

The red lines in my diagram represent the orbits of the planets. You can see that they follow (more or less) the same path called the ecliptic. These outer planets Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn go around the sun and are further away from the sun than us. They appear to arc right across the sky, but some other planets do not, because they are closer to the sun than the Earth. These are called the inner planets. The diagram above shows them circling around the setting sun. These planets, Venus and Mercury are in a place in their orbits that allow us to see them as the sun sets below the horizon. To have a good viewing viewing experience, find a location with minimal light pollution and a clear view of the western horizon.

Such alignments are rare and offer a spectacular opportunity for us to witness the dynamic choreography of our solar system. Don’t miss this chance to observe all seven planets aligned in the night sky.

When observing the planetary alignment, you may also see some of the moons (satellites) of the planets, especially those of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. Here’s what to look for:

1. Jupiter’s Moons (Galilean Moons) – Visible with Binoculars
Jupiter’s four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—are bright enough to be seen with binoculars.
They will appear as small dots lined up on either side of Jupiter.
A small telescope will show their movement over a few hours!

2. Saturn’s Moons – Requires a Small Telescope
Titan (largest and easiest to see)
Rhea, Dione, Tethys, Enceladus, and Mimas (fainter, need better optics)
Iapetus (can be tricky due to its varying brightness)
Saturn’s famous rings will also be visible in a telescope but their angle to us is making them more difficult to see and will soon appear as a line!

3. Mars’ Moons – Requires a Large Telescope
Phobos and Deimos are tiny and very close to Mars, making them hard to see without a large telescope.

Clear Skies
Milan Davidovic