2025 Planetary parade: ‘Celestial events should be used to educate people’

The recent hype about the planetary alignment of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon is not as rare as claimed. These events are part of regular celestial patterns, not "once-in-a-lifetime" occurrences

Hyderabad: The planetary parade of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and moon alignment, touted as ‘rare’ celestial event, is in fact not rare!

Recently, the internet has been abuzz with excitement over the planetary alignment, set to take place on January 25, with all seven planets visible in the night sky. However, while the event has captured public attention, claims of its rarity are exaggerated.

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One of the most common misconceptions is the visibility of Mercury. In reality, Mercury is currently visible in the morning sky due to its position relative to the Sun, and it is not expected to be visible in the evening until February.

While alignments of planets may seem thrilling, they are far from being rare. Planetary alignments occur regularly, thanks to the predictable nature of planetary orbits. For example, the alignment of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn happens every few years.

Larger alignments, involving more planets, occur every few decades, but these are not the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ events often claimed by viral videos or sensational internet posts.

Planetary movements follow well-understood orbital mechanics and can be predicted centuries in advance, meaning these alignments are part of regular astronomical patterns, documented in scientific calendars. Such events are neither mysterious nor unpredictable.

Enthusiasts can also witness these celestial wonders over an extended period, watching planets come together and move apart, like the conjunction of Saturn and Venus.

N Sri Raghunandan Kumar, Director of the Planetary Society of India, emphasises that these events should be used to educate the public about astronomy, rather than spreading misinformation. He warns against the profiteering hype surrounding these events, where businesses and individuals exaggerate the spectacle to sell telescopes or host pricey viewing events. This can lead to unrealistic expectations, especially among young audiences, who may feel disappointed when the actual observation doesn’t live up to the promises.