Qatar's Planetary Parade: How and Where to Witness the Celestial Event

Qatar's Planetary Parade

This week, Qatar will witness a "planetary parade" where six of the eight planets in our solar system will align: Saturn, Neptune, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, and Jupiter.

A free public event will take place on Tuesday, June 4, starting at 1am at Al Kharrara, allowing enthusiasts to observe this celestial phenomenon.

Ajith Everester, a Qatar-based astrophotographer and founder of Everester Observatory, mentioned that participants will have the chance to view the night sky both with the naked eye and through telescopes focused on Saturn, Mars, and the Moon. "Although the early morning timing on a weekday may not be ideal for everyone," he added, "it's a chance not to be missed."

Everester informed The Peninsula that Saturn will be visible all week after midnight, with Neptune joining shortly thereafter. Mars will appear around 2am, and in the pre-dawn hours, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mercury will rise on the eastern horizon. This makes Saturn and Mars the best candidates for viewing the planetary parade, with or without a telescope.

For the best observation times, any night this week should offer a good view. However, Everester advised heading to a dark location away from city lights, with a clear view to the east, on the morning of June 4.

"The crescent moon, set to rise at 2:39am with a modest magnitude of 3.5%, will be a stunning sight just two days before the new moon. A waning crescent on June 4 will captivate observers. Look out for the Milky Way and passing satellites as well," said Qatar-based amateur astronomer Navin Anand.

Several locations in the country, such as Khor Al Adaid, Al Kharrara, Al Aamriya, and Galactic Bay, provide excellent vantage points away from city lights to observe the planetary parade.

Planetary alignments occur when planets travel along their ecliptic orbits and appear aligned from Earth's perspective. Such alignments, involving three to eight planets, are not uncommon, though five or six-planet alignments are considered significant.

More planetary alignments are expected in the coming years, as outer planets, which move slowly in the sky, create numerous opportunities for these events. Another six-planet alignment will occur this August 28, Everester explained.

This planetary alignment, or parade of planets, appears to place them in a straight line, an illusion created by our perspective. According to NASA, astronomers refer to the phenomenon when two or more planets come close together in the sky as a conjunction. An "alignment" occurs when all the planets appear close to the sun in a straight line.

 

 

Source: The Peninsula Qatar