Out of the eight planets in our solar system (maybe nine), only five are easily visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Since prehistoric times, man has watched in awe these wandering stars, because these five planets are among the brightest objects in our night-time sky.

They are almost always eye-catching – but catching all five of them in a straight line in the sky at the same time is quite unusual. The last time it happened was in 2005 – more than a decade ago. But during the coming two weeks, for the first time in 11 years, all the planets visible to the naked eye will be visible in the morning sky.

To be able to admire this celestial parade of the five planets, go out around an hour before sunrise (around 6am) and look towards the southeast with a clear horizon. Mercury will be the most difficult to identify, very low down, but dazzling Venus, the ringed planet Saturn, ruddy Mars and brilliant Jupiter, as well as bright stars Antares in Scorpio and twinkly blue Spica in Virgo, will be easy to see, even from suburbs. One will be able to follow this planetary alignment until around mid-February.

Virgo and its nearby constellation Leo herald the early arrival of spring skies. Leo is easily identifiable by the pattern formed in the shape of a mirrored question mark asterism known as ‘The sickle’.

Obviously, in reality, this alignment is only apparent and specific to our point of view from the Earth. The planets are still hundreds of millions of kilometres away from each other, but it so happens that they all lie on, more or less, the same plane as they orbit around the sun. Our solar system is flat, so all the planets follow the same path across the sky, through the constellations of the zodiac.

By 6.30am, both Venus and Mercury will have climbed higher in the sky, but the glow of sunrise will have taken its toll, making Mercury hard, if not impossible, to see. An unobstructed view of the southeastern sky is thus essential, without buildings to hinder the view.

Both will still be relatively low in the sky, however the brightness of Venus will make it easy to notice. Mercury lies close by, to its lower left. Using binoculars will help in making it out. Mercury orbits the sun at the closest distance so it never wanders very far from the sun.

Jupiter will be the first planet to rise, at around 9pm. This ‘king of the planets’ will continue to brighten slowly during the month as it hangs out in the southern portion of the constellation of Leo.

The Earth and Jupiter approach each other every year. In March they will be at the closest point, called ‘opposition’. A pair of binoculars will reveal Jupitger’s four Galilean moons, changing position from night to night. Even a small telescope will show a cloud band or two on Jupiter, while larger telescopes will permit people to see more details as well as the shadows of the moons themselves, cast onto Jupiter’s atmosphere.

The famous Great Red Spot might be also on view, as Jupiter rotates once on itself in around 10 hours.

In a few months’ time, one will have another opportunity to view all five planets, but this will be just after sunset in August, and much more challenging. Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will be deeply immersed in the bright glow of sunset.

Astronomical events you should look out for during February

Tomorrow: Last quarter moon, near Mars (morning sky)
Wednesday: Moon near Saturn (morning sky)
Saturday: Moon near Mercury and Venus (morning sky)
February 8: New moon
February 15: First quarter
February 22: Full moon
February 24: Moon near Jupiter

Alexei Pace is president of the Astronomical Society of Malta.

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