Don't Miss This Once-in-a-Century Planetary Alignment Event in B.C!

This month, residents of British Columbia have a thrilling chance to witness a breathtaking celestial event that occurs only once every hundred years. Imagine looking up into the night sky on January 21, where six planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus—will align in a remarkable display of cosmic wonder.

For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the stars and planets, with ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Greeks, and Chinese carefully recording planetary movements. However, large alignments of multiple planets are exceptionally rare. As Canadian astronomer David Balam, a former University of Victoria researcher, points out, while small groupings of two to three planets are relatively common, a starring cast of six is something to be cherished.

“This celestial performance occurs due to the planets' orbits aligning momentarily as they circle the sun,” says Balam. He explains that Jupiter takes about 12 years to complete its orbit, while Mercury zips around in just 88 days. Neptune, with the slowest orbit, takes an astonishing 165 years, and Venus, the closest planet to Earth, takes 225 days.

What makes this event even more exciting is that, unlike stars which can be dimmed by urban light pollution, the brightness of these planets means they can be seen even from city centers. Balam enthusiastically notes, “The planets are extraordinarily bright. Venus can be so luminous that it casts shadows, while Mars glows with a distinct red-orange hue.”

For those eager to glimpse Uranus and Neptune, a good set of binoculars or a telescope will be necessary, as these planets are not visible to the naked eye. “Uranus can be spotted with binoculars, but you’ll need a telescope to catch a glimpse of Neptune,” Balam advises.

In contrast to the fleeting total solar eclipse set for 2024, which dazzles for just minutes, this extraordinary planetary alignment will present itself over several weeks, concluding in February. “It’s an extended event,” Balam assures. While Venus will be the first to vanish due to its quick orbit, the alignment will remain visible for stargazers.

The best time to observe this jaw-dropping spectacle is shortly after sunset, looking southwest. But don’t get discouraged if you miss it: all eight planets—yes, including the elusive Pluto—will align again in May 6, 2492. While this event will not form a perfect line, the mere sight of all eight planets in the same sky is a sight to behold, happening approximately once every four centuries.

Mark your calendars and prepare your telescopes or binoculars—this lunar ballet is a stellar occasion that B.C. residents won’t want to miss!