Rare Planetary Parade to Illuminate the Sky: Here’s When and How to Watch From India

Planetary parade 2025: A spectacular celestial event will take place as all seven planets of our solar system align in a rare planetary parade on February 28, 2025. This event, which won’t happen again until 2040, will offer skywatchers a stunning view of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, all appearing together in the night sky.

A planetary parade, or alignment, happens when several planets line up along the ecliptic plane, the path the Sun takes across the sky. While smaller alignments are fairly common, this event is special because it involves all seven visible planets. Seeing so many bright planets at once is an exciting opportunity for both astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers.

The best time to see the alignment is about 45 minutes after sunset. Some planets will be easy to spot with the naked eye, while others will need optical help:

Venus: Visible in the western sky just after sunset.

Mars: High in the southern sky, visible into early March.

Jupiter: A bright object shining in the southwest.

Uranus: Located near the Pleiades star cluster, visible to the naked eye in dark areas.

Saturn: Close to the Sun, so it will appear faint.

Neptune: Requires a telescope to view properly.

Mercury: Appears briefly in the west-southwest before setting.

The planetary parade will be visible across India. Major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Noida, Indore, Kanpur, Guwahati, Gangtok, Ahmedabad, and Dehradun will offer good viewing opportunities, especially if there is little light pollution and the skies are clear.

Find a Dark Spot: Get away from city lights to see the planets more clearly.

Use Binoculars or a Telescope: Some planets are easy to see with the naked eye, but a telescope or binoculars will make the experience even better.

Check the Weather: Clear skies are important for the best view.

Be Patient: Allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for a clearer view of the fainter planets.

This planetary parade coincides with the conclusion of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, adding to its spiritual importance for many people. Some believe such celestial events enhance cosmic energy and consciousness. Whether you’re interested in astronomy or personal reflection, this rare alignment is worth witnessing.

This alignment is also a great opportunity for scientists to study planetary movements and how they interact with each other. Space agencies and observatories worldwide will be observing and documenting the event.

With clear skies and careful planning, skywatchers in India and around the world can enjoy this amazing display.