The astronomical phenomenon drawing attention this week is the planetary conjunction of seven planets, occurring on the evening of February 28, 2025. This event is akin to a "desfile de planetas" or planet parade, featuring visible planets including Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and, for the occasion, Mercury. Astrophysicists, including Ricardo Ogando from the Observatório Nacional, indicated this unique alignment can be primarily viewed with the naked eye, especially planets like Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.
On this night, observers can expect to see three planets without equipment: Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Other planets, particularly Mercury and Saturn, might be obscured by sunlight due to their proximity to the Sun. The outer planets, Uranus and Neptune, require telescopic support for identification due to their great distance from Earth.
To get the optimal view, Ogando recommends finding locations with clear views of the western horizon, with the best vantage points lying away from city lights and obstructions. The event is not just about viewing the spectacle; it's about appreciating the vastness of space. “This phenomenon is distributed over such a wide area of the sky; it is most favorable to be seen without telescopes,” he encourages, emphasizing the experience of lying back and enjoying the celestial scene.
Variations of this astronomical occurrence have generated some misinformation. Many social media posts inaccurately suggest the conjunction is exceptionally rare—"this 'alignment' gained visibility. And along with it, some incorrect tidbits, saying it is super rare, occurring only once every trillion years," critiques Ogando. The true nature of this event lies not within the alignment itself, but rather the chance to see all these planets at once within our line of sight. “These planets won’t align perfectly but instead form more of an arc across the sky,” says Thiago Gonçalves from the Valongo Observatory.
While Friday evening marks the peak observation window, it will happen again from August 12 to 20 later this year, making this planetary conjunction less of a rarity than many have led themselves to believe. Excitement grows for this celestial display, illuminating misconceptions and bringing attention to needed scientific literacy. A crowd is expected at the Ibirapuera Planetarium, where free telescopes will be set up from 7:30 PM local time. Visitors will be allowed on first-come, first-served basis for viewing Jupiter and Mars through the telescopes. Those without telescopes can still view the planets with the naked eye.
For those northern regions like Roraima, the visibility of celestial bodies might be constrained as both Mercury and Saturn will be observed just above the horizon at dusk, but Vênus will be visible until 7:15 PM, enhancing views of Mars and Jupiter later on. Observers are encouraged to download free sky-mapping apps to aid viewing.
The unique spectacle of planetary conjunctions is made possible by the positioning of the planets along the same orbital plane around the Sun. When multiple planets align, it offers a rare opportunity to view them so closely together from our Earth-bound perspective. The last time all of these planets were visible at once was back in 2022, and another chance like this will not be around until 2040. Therefore, making use of the excitement around this event highlights the marvels of astronomy and serves as an invitation for people of all ages to look up and appreciate the wonders of our universe.
While many will be quick to label the occurrence as rare, the underlying facts reveal something much more significant; the planets maintain their orbits with precision, and this conjunction arrangement remains more of perceptual alignment rather than physical alignment within the three-dimensional fabric of space. Regardless of the perspective, it's clear: observing the planets this February 28 offers both enjoyment and education, bridging the gap between laypeople and the vast, mysterious cosmos.