On February 28, people across Switzerland will be treated to a rare cosmic treat: the “planetary parade.” Seven planets will align in the night sky, and four will be visible to the naked eye.
As part of the planetary parade, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury and Saturn will appear aligned in the skies over Switzerland. Four planets - Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury - should be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus, Neptune and Saturn should be visible using a telescope.
Though all planets in our solar system orbit the sun at different speeds, distances and angles, on rare occasions, they can appear aligned when we see them from Earth. It’s well worth looking skywards on February 28, as it will be the last time the phenomenon will be visible until 2040.
Anyone eager to catch a glimpse of the planetary parade should look up as soon as the sun sets on February 28, there will only be a few minutes before several planets drop out of view below the horizon. Twilight in Swiss cities and cantons is expected to fall between 6.03pm and 6.20pm.
Most of the string of planets will be visible near-due west at sundown, with Mercury and Saturn situated lowest to the horizon. Venus will shine brightly above them, and you’ll be able to see Neptune and Uranus further to the southwest. To the south, you can witness Jupiter shining brightly, while the red, pinkish glow of Mars will glisten high in the sky in the southeast.
To get the best view, it is best to avoid places with large amounts of light pollution, like cities. If you want to see the cosmos in all its glory, then a journey to a dark field, hill, forest or mountain is well worth the effort.