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Los aficionados a la astonomía podrán disfrutar de un espectáculo poco común en febrero cuando ocurra el alineamiento más exacto de siete planetas en el cielo.

Durante enero ya son visibles en el cielo nocturno seis planetas: Venus, Marte, Júpiter, Saturno, Urano y Neptuno.

Pero el 28 de febrero, durante una sola noche, se les unirá Mercurio, en una rara alineación de siete planetas que no volverá a ocurrir hasta 2492.

¿Qué es una alineación planetaria?

En realidad, no es raro que varios planetas puedan verse juntos en el cielo nocturno.

Tampoco es raro ver a los planetas formados en una "línea" a través del cielo.

Esta es una línea imaginaria de la trayectoria aparente del Sol a lo largo de un año, conocida como "eclíptica".

La eclíptica se debe al hecho de que la Tierra y todos los demás planetas del Sistema Solar se formaron a partir del mismo disco plano de gas y polvo que alguna vez rodeó a nuestro Sol en su infancia.

Esto significa que todos los planetas del Sistema Solar ocupan aproximadamente el mismo plano orbital (incluida la Tierra) y, por lo tanto, todos siguen más o menos la línea de la eclíptica en el cielo.

Las diferentes velocidades a las que orbitan los planetas hacen que, en ocasiones, varios de ellos puedan estar alineados aproximadamente en el mismo lado del Sol.

Desde la Tierra, si las órbitas se alinean correctamente, podemos ver varios planetas en nuestro cielo nocturno al mismo tiempo.

Es por eso que las llamadas "alineaciones planetarias" o "desfiles planetarios" son realmente algo inevitable

Astronomers will be treated to a rare spectacle in February when the most exact alignment of seven planets in the sky occurs.

During January, six planets are already visible in the night sky: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

But on February 28, during a single night, they will be joined by Mercury, in a rare alignment of seven planets that will not occur again until 2492.

What is a planetary alignment?

In fact, it is not uncommon for several planets to be seen together in the night sky.

It is also not uncommon to see the planets formed in a "line" across the sky.

This is an imaginary line of the Sun's apparent path over the course of a year, known as the "ecliptic".

The ecliptic is due to the fact that the Earth and all the other planets in the Solar System formed from the same flat disk of gas and dust that once surrounded our Sun in its infancy.

This means that all the planets of the Solar System occupy approximately the same orbital plane (including the Earth) and, therefore, all follow more or less the line of the ecliptic in the sky.

The different velocities at which the planets orbit mean that, on occasion, several of them may be aligned on approximately the same side of the Sun.

From Earth, if the orbits are aligned correctly, we can see several planets in our night sky at the same time.

That is why the so-called "planetary alignments" or "planetary parades" are really something inevitable.

Astronomy enthusiasts will be able to enjoy a rare spectacle in February when the most precise alignment of seven planets in the sky occurs.

In January, six planets are already visible in the night sky: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

However, on February 28, Mercury will join them for a rare alignment of seven planets that will not happen again until 2492.

What is a planetary alignment?

In reality, it is not uncommon for several planets to be seen together in the night sky.

It is also not rare to see the planets formed in a "line" across the sky.

This is an imaginary line of the apparent trajectory of the Sun over a year, known as the "ecliptic."

The ecliptic is due to the fact that Earth and all the other planets in the Solar System formed from the same flat disk of gas and dust that once surrounded our Sun in its infancy.

This means that all the planets in the Solar System occupy approximately the same orbital plane (including Earth) and, therefore, all follow more or less the line of the ecliptic in the sky.

The different speeds at which the planets orbit can sometimes cause several of them to align approximately on the same side of the Sun.

From Earth, if the orbits align correctly, we can see several planets in our night sky at the same time.

That is why so-called "planetary alignments" or "planetary parades" are really something inevitable.

¿Cómo será la alineación planetaria de enero y febrero?

Mercurio, Venus, Marte, Júpiter y Saturno son lo suficientemente brillantes como para ser visibles a simple vista durante las noches despejadas de enero.

Urano y Neptuno también están allí, pero para verlos se requieren binoculares o un telescopio.

En realidad, los planetas no están exactamente alineados. Más bien aparecen en un arco a través del cielo debido a su plano orbital en el Sistema Solar.

Pero la verdadera sorpresa, si el clima lo permite, ocurrirá el 28 de febrero, cuando Mercurio se una a este desfile planetario en un gran espectáculo que podrá ser observado desde la Tierra.

"Hay algo especial al ver los planetas con tus propios ojos", le dijo a BBC Future Jenifer Millard, divulgadora científica y astrónoma de Fifth Star Labs en el Reino Unido.

"Es posible ir a Google y obtener una vista más espectacular de todos estos planetas. Pero cuando miras estos objetos, son fotones que han viajado millones o miles de millones de kilómetros a través del espacio para llegar a tus retinas".

El espectáculo puede ser fascinante, pero ¿tienen algún impacto estas alineaciones aquí en la Tierra?

Algunos científicos han sugerido que las alineaciones planetarias podrían causar impactos en nuestro planeta, pero la base científica para la mayoría de estas afirmaciones es débil o inexistente.

Como explica Jenifer Millard, realmente "es solo una casualidad que estén en esta posición de sus órbitas".

La utilidad de las alineaciones planetarias

Como señala el periodista de asuntos espaciales y científicos Jonathan O'Callaghan, las alineaciones planterias sí pueden tener un impacto en la vida en la Tierra, en particular en términos de la exploración del Sistema Solar.

"Llegar a los planetas exteriores con una nave espacial es difícil porque estos mundos están muy lejos, a miles de millones de kilómetros, y se necesitarían décadas para llegar", escribe O'Callaghan en BBC Future.

"Sin embargo, usar la atracción gravitatoria de un planeta bien ubicado, como Júpiter, para lanzar una nave espacial hacia el exterior puede reducir drásticamente el tiempo de viaje, algo que ninguna nave espacial ha hecho mejor que las naves Voyager de la NASA", agrega.

What will the planetary alignment be like in January and February?

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye during clear nights in January.

Uranus and Neptune are also there, but binoculars or a telescope are required to see them.

In reality, the planets are not exactly aligned. Rather, they appear in an arc across the sky due to their orbital plane in the Solar System.

But the real surprise, weather permitting, will occur on February 28, when Mercury joins this planetary parade in a grand spectacle that can be observed from Earth.

"There's something special about seeing the planets with your own eyes," Jenifer Millard, science popularizer and astronomer at Fifth Star Labs in the United Kingdom, told BBC Future.

"It is possible to go to Google and get a more spectacular view of all these planets. But when you look at these objects, they are photons that have traveled millions or billions of miles through space to reach your retinas."

The spectacle can be fascinating, but do these alignments have any impact here on Earth?

Some scientists have suggested that planetary alignments could cause impacts on our planet, but the scientific basis for most of these claims is weak or nonexistent.

As Jenifer Millard explains, it's really "just a coincidence that they are in this position in their orbits."

The usefulness of planetary alignments

As space and science journalist Jonathan O'Callaghan points out, planetary alignments can indeed have an impact on life on Earth, particularly in terms of Solar System exploration.

"Reaching the outer planets with a spacecraft is difficult because these worlds are so far away, billions of kilometers, and would take decades to reach," O'Callaghan writes in BBC Future.

"However, using the gravitational pull of a well-placed planet, such as Jupiter, to launch a spacecraft outward can drastically reduce travel time, something no spacecraft has done better than NASA's Voyager spacecraft," he adds.

What will the planetary alignment in January and February be like?

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye during clear nights in January.

Uranus and Neptune are also there, but binoculars or a telescope are required to see them.

In reality, the planets are not exactly aligned. Rather, they appear in an arc across the sky due to their orbital plane in the Solar System.

But the real surprise, weather permitting, will occur on February 28, when Mercury joins this planetary parade in a grand display that can be observed from Earth.

"There is something special about seeing the planets with your own eyes," Jenifer Millard, a science communicator and astronomer at Fifth Star Labs in the UK, told BBC Future.

"You can go to Google and get a more spectacular view of all these planets. But when you look at these objects, they are photons that have traveled millions or billions of kilometers through space to reach your retinas."

The spectacle may be fascinating, but do these alignments have any impact here on Earth?

Some scientists have suggested that planetary alignments could cause impacts on our planet, but the scientific basis for most of these claims is weak or nonexistent.

As Jenifer Millard explains, it is really "just a coincidence that they are in this position in their orbits."

The Utility of Planetary Alignments

As space and science journalist Jonathan O'Callaghan points out, planetary alignments can indeed have an impact on life on Earth, particularly in terms of the exploration of the Solar System.

"Reaching the outer planets with a spacecraft is difficult because these worlds are very far, billions of kilometers away, and it would take decades to get there," O'Callaghan writes in BBC Future.

"However, using the gravitational pull of a well-placed planet, like Jupiter, to sling a spacecraft outward can drastically reduce travel time, something that no spacecraft has done better than NASA's Voyager missions," he adds.

Las alineaciones de planetas han sido utilizadas para investigar muchos aspectos diferentes del Universo, como el descubrimiento y estudio de exoplanetas, los mundos que orbitan alrededor de estrellas distintas al Sol.

Y también hay algunos usos más novedosos, como investigar la existencia de vida extraterrestre en sistemas solares donde los exoplanetas pasan uno frente al otro desde nuestro punto de vista.

Cómo ver la alineación planetaria

Este evento, que se extenderá por varios días durante enero y febrero, será visible desde distintos puntos del planeta, siempre que las condiciones meteorológicas y la contaminación lumínica lo permitan.

Como informa la NASA, durante enero en las primeras horas después del anochecer se puede ver a Venus y Saturno en el suroeste, a Júpiter en lo alto y a Marte en el este.

Urano y Neptuno también están allí, pero se necesita un telescopio para verlos.

El momento ideal para observar la alineación es justo después de la puesta del sol, pero se debe tener en cuenta que la hora exacta de salida y puesta de cada planeta variará dependiendo de tu ubicación en la Tierra.

La sorpresa especial del espectáculo tendrá lugar el 28 de febrero cuando Mercurio se una a estos seis planetas.

Para disfrutar el evento, los expertos recomiendan ubicarte en un lugar con cielos oscuros, en zonas alejadas de la contaminación lumínica, como áreas rurales o montañosas.

También se aconseja revisar las condiciones del clima para asegurarte de que el cielo está despejado el día del evento.

Los expertos de la Queen's University, en Canadá, recomiendan descargar una aplicación como Stellarium o Star Chart.

Cuando apuntes tu teléfono al cielo, la app te dirá qué objeto del cielo nocturno estás observando.

Los telescopios y binoculares pueden ayudarle a ver más detalles, como los anillos de Saturno y las lunas de Júpiter.

Planet alignments have been used to investigate many different aspects of the Universe, such as the discovery and study of exoplanets, the worlds orbiting stars other than the Sun.

And there are also some more novel uses, such as investigating the existence of extraterrestrial life in solar systems where exoplanets pass in front of each other from our point of view.

How to see the planetary alignment

This event, which will last several days during January and February, will be visible from different points of the planet, weather and light pollution permitting.

As reported by NASA, during January in the first hours after sunset, Venus and Saturn can be seen in the southwest, Jupiter overhead and Mars in the east.

Uranus and Neptune are also there, but you need a telescope to see them.

The ideal time to observe the alignment is just after sunset, but it should be noted that the exact time of sunrise and sunset for each planet will vary depending on your location on Earth.

The special surprise of the show will take place on February 28 when Mercury joins these six planets.

To enjoy the event, experts recommend you to be located in a place with dark skies, in areas away from light pollution, such as rural or mountainous areas.

It is also advisable to check weather conditions to make sure the skies are clear on the day of the event.

Experts at Queen's University, Canada, recommend downloading an application such as Stellarium or Star Chart.

When you point your phone at the sky, the app will tell you which object in the night sky you are observing.

Telescopes and binoculars can help you see more detail, such as Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons.

Planetary alignments have been used to investigate many different aspects of the Universe, such as the discovery and study of exoplanets, worlds that orbit stars other than the Sun.

There are also some more novel uses, such as investigating the existence of extraterrestrial life in solar systems where exoplanets pass in front of one another from our viewpoint.

How to See the Planetary Alignment

This event, which will extend over several days in January and February, will be visible from various points on the planet, as long as weather conditions and light pollution allow it.

As NASA reports, during January in the early hours after sunset, you can see Venus and Saturn in the southwest, Jupiter high above, and Mars in the east.

Uranus and Neptune are also there, but a telescope is needed to see them.

The ideal time to observe the alignment is just after sunset, but it should be noted that the exact time of rising and setting for each planet will vary depending on your location on Earth.

The special surprise of the spectacle will take place on February 28 when Mercury joins these six planets.

To enjoy the event, experts recommend finding a location with dark skies, in areas away from light pollution, such as rural or mountainous areas.

It is also advisable to check the weather conditions to ensure that the sky is clear on the day of the event.

Experts from Queen's University in Canada recommend downloading an app like Stellarium or Star Chart.

When you point your phone at the sky, the app will tell you which object in the night sky you are observing.

Telescopes and binoculars can help you see more details, such as the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter.