This update on our earlier planetary parade now shows all seven planets, culminating in the visibility of Mercury, and gives practical data for observation in the coming days.
In ons previous article We discussed the wonderful planetary parade that was recently observed. Now one more planet has been added: Mercury. In this follow -up article we will take you through the new composition of the alignment, in which all seven planets are visible at the same time. We highlight the circumstances, the dates and the ideal observation conditions for different locations.
An overview of the Planetary Parade
The latest observations indicate that an impressive planetary alignment takes place on 22 February 2025, just after sunset. The image below (a screenshot off Stellarium) shows the sky where Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Venus are high in the sky, while Neptunus, Saturn and now also Mercury appear just above the horizon. This configuration makes it possible to experience a complete planetary parade with the naked eye, provided you are in a suitable location:
Venus and Mercury: the inner planets
The image below shows the positions of Venus and Mercury on 28 February 2025 just after sunset. Venus shines clearly in the twilight, while Mercury is low on the horizon and is partly overshadowed by the still downward sun. This special set -up emphasizes that Mercury, although usually difficult to observe, is now fully part of the parade.
Mars and Jupiter: The outdoor planets
Mars and Jupiter are high in the sky on 28 February 2025, above the constellation Orion. Mars, with a reddish glow, and Jupiter, with a strikingly clear appearance, together form a spectacular duo. These planets are easy to see with the naked eye and form the center of the outer alignment:
Saturn: the challenge of low visibility
The position of Saturn appears, as seen in the image below, right above the horizon on 28 February 2025 around sunset. This makes it difficult to perceive the planet, especially in combination with the proximity of the sun:
What Saturn ‘observation also does not help a lot forward is the decreasing slope of Saturn’ rings; The rings are almost completely flattened by the state of the planet in relation to earth, which makes the perception even more challenging:
Uranus and Neptunus: the outer ice giants
The images below help to locate Uranus, which with a magnitude of +5.8 is not visible with the naked eye (too weak), but can still be a relatively easy observation when using binoculars. While Neptunus, as shows in the image below, with a magnitude of +7.8 is an even greater challenge and rather a simple telescope required. Both planets are in the utmost of the alignment. Their positions in the zodiac sign, respectively, fish, provide extra instructions for the spread of the planets about heaven:
This update on our earlier discussion of the Planetary Parade shows that Heaven offers a complete and spectacular spectacle in 2025. Due to the addition of Mercury, the Parade is now complete and astronomers and interested parties can all seven planets observe simultaneously. We advise everyone who wants to look at the parade to agree heaven For current observation times to consult, use an app such as ‘Sky Tonight’ or ‘Starwalk’ and find a dark location. Don’t forget to take a telescope (or good binoculars) with you if you also want to observe Uranus or Neptune. This unique event again proves how dynamic and fascinating our solar system is.
