If you look up at the night sky today, you might notice something different. A rare cosmic event is unfolding as six planets of our solar system appear to march in a line.
This phenomenon, often called a planetary parade, features Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all visible in the same patch of sky.
For skywatchers in India, this is a golden opportunity to see our celestial neighbours without needing complex equipment for most of them.
While the planets are actually millions of kilometres apart, their orbits have brought them into a visual alignment from our perspective on Earth.
WHICH PLANETS ARE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE?
You do not need a telescope to see the main stars of the show. Venus will be the brightest object in the west, glowing with a steady white light.
Jupiter will shine even more prominently higher up toward the southeast. Saturn and Mercury are also visible to the naked eye, though Mercury can be tricky to spot against the twilight glow.
If you want to see the full set of six, you will need a bit of help. Uranus and Neptune are far too faint for the human eye to pick up.
To see the pale blue tint of Uranus or the distant speck of Neptune, a pair of binoculars or a small telescope will be necessary.
Even then, you must wait until the Sun has completely set to ensure your safety while using optical gear.
WHEN CAN YOU SEE THE PLANETS IN INDIA?
The best time to catch this show is shortly after sunset. In most Indian cities, you should start looking at the sky between 6:15 PM and 8:00 PM IST.
You will need to find a spot with a clear, unobstructed view of the western horizon.
Timing is everything because planets like Mercury and Venus sit very low in the sky and will dip below the horizon within an hour of the Sun disappearing.
Jupiter, however, will remain high and bright, acting as a brilliant anchor for the parade.
WHICH INDIAN CITIES HAVE THE BEST VIEW?
The good news is that this event is visible across the entire country. Residents in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai can see the brighter planets despite moderate light pollution.
However, for a truly immersive experience, locations with darker skies offer a superior view.
Spots like Ladakh and rural parts of Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh will have the clearest vistas.
In the south, coastal stretches of Tamil Nadu are also expected to have excellent visibility. If you are in a city, heading to a high rooftop or a balcony facing the west will be your best bet to beat the urban skyline.
WHY IS THE PLANETARY PARADE A SPECIAL TREAT?
Nasa has highlighted that while planetary alignments happen, seeing six at once is a special treat.
The space agency explains that this occurs because the planets’ orbits around the Sun are within a few degrees of the plane called the ecliptic. This is the path the Sun appears to take in space, due to Earth’s orbit around the star.
When the six planets gather on one side of the Sun, they appear to form a line from our vantage point.
To make the event even more engaging, Nasa’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released sonifications of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.
This allows enthusiasts to hear the translation of astronomical data into sound. Nasa also reminds observers that while four planets are visible to the naked eye, the distant ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, remain hidden without optical help.
