Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Six Planets Align in the Sky Today A rare astronomical event occurred on August 28th when Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune aligned in the sky.
[00:00:13] Stargazers around the world were treated to the sight of these six planets gathering near one side of the sun simultaneously, according to Starwalk. To locate the planets and enhance the viewing experience, people could use the sky tonight. Apply in the early morning from Earth's perspective, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn appeared almost in a straight line across the sky. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were visible to the naked eye, with Mercury positioned closer to the horizon and harder to spot.
[00:00:49] Viewing Uranus and Neptune required a telescope or high powered binoculars. This planetary alignment wasn't limited to a single day and could be observed even after August 28, so those who missed it could still catch a glimpse in the following days.
[00:01:06] The concept of planetary alignment is more about what is observed from a human perspective on Earth rather than a true physical alignment in space, said Nikita Madanpal, an astrophysicist at Wits University in South Africa, in an interview with Live Science.
[00:01:24] Planetary conjunction occurs when two or more planets appear close together. From Earth's viewpoint, it's important to note that these planets aren't actually close to each other. Even when they seem aligned from Earth, they remain vastly distant from one another in space.
[00:01:40] Madan Paul emphasized that the alignment of planets has virtually no significant physical impact on Earth.
[00:01:48] Wayne Barkhouse, an astrophysicist at the University of North Dakota, added, the only effect on life on Earth during a planetary alignment is the spectacular show in the sky. There's no increased risk of earthquakes or anything anything similar. The gravitational changes Earth experiences during any planetary alignment are negligible.
