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Skywatchers are set for a rare treat this April as four planets, Mercury, Mars, Saturn and Neptune, will come together in the early morning sky. The alignment will be visible from April 16 to April 23, offering a short but fascinating window to spot multiple planets at once.
For viewers in India, the event will be visible, provided the skies are clear, and they are willing to wake up before sunrise.
A planetary alignment occurs when several planets appear to cluster in the same part of the sky as seen from Earth. While it may look like they are close to one another, that is not actually the case.
In reality, the planets remain millions of kilometres apart. The effect is created because all planets orbit the Sun along a similar flat path, known as the ecliptic. From Earth, this shared path can make them appear lined up.
When and where to watch in India?
The alignment will be visible across many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. In India, the best time to catch the event will be about 30 minutes before sunrise.
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This means skywatchers should look up between roughly 5 am and 5.45 am, depending on their location. The important thing is to orient yourself toward the eastern horizon and find a place that is not surrounded by tall structures or artificial lighting.
The best time to watch this phenomenon should fall between April 18 and April 20, when the planets will be more visible in formation.
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What will you see in the sky?
These four planets will be located at various altitudes above the horizon, in a row.
Mercury will be positioned near the horizon and may be difficult to see because of the morning sun. Its visibility improves as the days progress toward April 20.
Saturn will appear slightly above Mercury, with a soft yellowish glow. It can be seen with the naked eye, though binoculars can improve the view.
Mars will stand out more clearly with its reddish-orange colour. It will be higher in the sky and easier to identify.
Neptune will be the faintest of the group and will not be visible without binoculars or a small telescope.
Why is this alignment special?
The exciting part of this phenomenon is that the planets’ arrangement will gradually change over time. The planets may initially seem to be in a triangular configuration.
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However, by April 20, their arrangement will start shifting to a diagonal alignment. Thus, one can witness how the positions of the planets change over just a few days.
A brief window for skywatchers
Planetary alignments like this do not happen often in such a clear and compact form. While three-planet groupings are more common, seeing four planets together in the same part of the sky is a rarer sight.
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For those willing to wake up early, this week-long event offers a simple yet memorable way to connect with the night sky; no special equipment is required for most of the planets.
