Take a tour of the solar system tonight (Dec. 28), as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter are all visible with the naked eye.
Meanwhile, Uranus and Neptune can also be observed with a telescope or binoculars.
Therefore, the Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a “Grand Tour of the Solar System” livestream (for free) starting at 12.30 p.m. EST on Dec. 28.
You can also watch the live webcast courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project website or on their YouTube channel.
The five planets will line up in the sky starting from the southwestern horizon.
Since its small size, Mercury will be difficult to see unless the dark sky conditions are right.
Uranus can be found between Mars and Jupiter and is only visible through optics.
Neptune is also visible through binoculars or a telescope between Saturn and Jupiter.
Gianluca Masi, an astronomer of the Virtual Telescope Project, said this moment isn’t particularly rare, but it is always a marvelous sight.
On average, such “grand tours” happen every one to two years.
Skywatchers also could see those five planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter – alignment in June 2022.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the spectacular night.
You can also prepare cameras and lenses for astrophotography to capture the best skywatching images.
Read more:
Nasa’s InSight Lander: A History-Making Mission on the Red Planet Comes to a Close
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