Cyprus Mail 17 February 2025 - by Johanna Pauls
And an even rarer meeting with the stars
Whether you’re an astronomer, ordinary stargazer or astrologer, the alignment of the other seven planets in our solar system on the same side of the sun on February 28 will make a grand celestial show.
Planetary alignments or planetary parades themselves are not rare. Sometimes they involve two or three or five of the planets as was seen on January 25 this year. Six are now in place for the grand finale – Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars – and will be joined by Mercury to complete the rare alignment at the end of the month. The next time this will happen will be in 2040.
But for George Danos, president of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), what’s even more special than this cosmic spectacle is the shape this particular planetary parade will form based on their positions relative to the sun and Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, and Orion.
“It’s art in the sky, as if a painter threw a celestial symphony on the sky – but it’s pure maths.”
According to Danos, this particular spectacle is in fact so rare, that the next time a similar shape may occur could take “tens of thousands, if not millions of years”.
By shape, Danos is referring to position of the planets combined with Orion and Sirius which will create a ‘kite’ making a visually striking formation in the sky.
“Orion and Sirius are in a constellation that will remain the same for the next thousand years, but together with Jupiter and Mars they form a shape resembling a kite. This is what makes it special,” he stresses.
“You don’t really need a telescope or binoculars to watch this spectacle,” Danos explains. Though, the expert says, that with a pair of binoculars or a telescope, one will be able to see even more details.
In terms of the February 28 planetary parade itself, five planets are visible without optical aid: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Blueish Neptune absolutely requires a telescope to observe. While greenish Uranus is technically bright enough to detect with good eyesight, but a telescope is highly recommended.
Ideally, Danos says, one would go somewhere outside the city where the sky is clear, however, the alignment will be visible from Nicosia too.
For those who won’t be able to see the celestial phenomenon that day, Danos has encouraging news: “Part of the alignment will actually be visible every night until the end of the month, what’s special is that on the 28th the planets will be exactly aligned and joined by Mercury.”
He emphasises the poetic aspect of the phenomenon and claims that saying that the alignment was special simply sounded too sterile. “It’s the shape, not the alignment that is so magical,” Danos explains, “the shape in combination with the constellation”.
As the parade is just a visual observation, it will not have any actual impact on Earth, he said.
“The planets might look aligned but aren’t actually lined up in their orbits.”
He said that after February the visual magic will be over. Increasing daylight will make the planets harder to spot and with Mars and Jupiter moving, the kite shape will finally be deconstructed. “The sky has created a masterpiece for us to see,” Danos said.
The alignment will be visible for stargazers on February 28 approximately 45 minutes after sunset. Venus will be visible for one to two hours while the other planets remain visible throughout the night.
Equally excited about the upcoming parade are astrologers. Roy Gillett, president of the Astrological Association in the UK explains: “Each planetary cycle indicates the changing zodiacal qualities of ideas, actions, love, transformation and change, power and success.
“A key indicator in the parade is Saturn and Neptune building to be conjunct on February 20 next year in the new zodiac cycle’s first degree of Aries – the first time since 555 CE. Neptune describes cultural values and religious beliefs, Saturn structure and controls. Aries jumping in impulsively. So, expect times of striking out, a taste for new ways of doing things, experimentation,” he said.
Since ancient times, mankind has always looked to the skies for signs and omens. Temples, pyramids and monoliths in cultures around the world are testament to this being almost always built to harness the sun’s rays during the summer and winter solstices and some even align with certain positions of the planets.
“As would have the ancients, many astrologers today view this parade of ancient and modern planets in the sky as a herald of major world change to come. You will not be able to see next year’s conjunction with the naked eye, but its indications will be increasingly in our lives,” Gillett said.
Whatever you believe, the night of February 28 promises a visual delight. Let’s just hope for a clear sky.
