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BBC News
25-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Solar Eclipse 2025: What is it, when is it and how to watch
On Saturday 29 March 2025, people living in the UK will be treated to a partial solar solar eclipse will be partial rather than total, meaning that the Moon will cover a chunk of the Sun - looking like it's taking a bite out of it!It's a really special eclipse, as it'll begin not too early in the morning and should be visible from all across the UK, though certain areas might be able to see a more dramatic eclipse than out what's expected to happen below! When is the solar eclipse in the UK? The partial solar eclipse is expected to take place between 10am and 12pm on the morning of Saturday 29 to the Royal Astronomical Society, by around 11am the Moon will be at its peak coverage of the Sun, meaning the eclipse will look the most dramatic. On Saturday, everyone in the UK should be lucky enough to see the partial Sky at Night Magazine says that the best place to see it will be the northwest of nearly half of the Sun could be covered by the Moon. What is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its a special cosmic event where the Sun, Moon and Earth all have to line up to for it to on how they line up, there's different types of eclipses that are visible from the Earth.A partial eclipse - which will happen on Saturday - is when the Moon only covers part of the Sun.A total eclipse is when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon, causing the sky to go dark as there isn't enough light from the also something called an annular eclipse, where the Moon is in front of the Sun, but is too far away from Earth to completely block an annular eclipse, it looks like there's a dramatic ring of fire around the Moon - but this is just the part of the Sun that hasn't been covered up. How to watch the solar eclipse safely Although it might be tempting, it's not safe to look directly at the eclipse, as the Sun could damage your eyes. But there's lots of fun ways to observe this amazing event if you're happy to get involved with some arts and crafts!A safe way to look at the partial solar eclipse is through something called a pinhole camera, which can easily be made at projects the light from the Sun onto a piece of card inside a cereal box, where you'll be able to see the outline of the Sun as obscured by the Moon. Make sure to stand with your back to the Sun, allowing the light to project through the pinhole for you to view safely inside the box.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When is the planet alignment 2025? How to see the 7-planet parade in Florida
February has a special gift for stargazers as it prepares to exit stage left: A special planetary alignment, more affectionately referred to as a 'planet parade.' On Friday, just after dusk, seven planets will align as Mercury joins Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn, according to SkyatNightMagazine. The big question is will Florida be able to see the planetary alignment? Here's what to know. Here's the good news: Yes, Floridians will be able to see tonight's planetary alignment. Here's the bad news: You'll need a telescope or high-powered binoculars to see Uranus and Neptune. In Florida, you'll be able to see the planetary alignment just after the sun sets on Friday. Your best chances of seeing each planet will be at twilight, went the sky reaches its darkest point. In the Pensacola area, the sun will set around 5:47 p.m. CT, according to Port St. Joe has the latest sunset time at 6:39 p.m. CT. Remember, Florida has two time zones, so adjust these times accordingly. Seven planets in our solar system — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Mercury and Neptune — will align in the night sky, according to Science Alert. The planets will appear in a line or arc from east to west, NASA said. As with most celestial events, the best place to view them will be anywhere nearby with the least amount of light pollution. In this case, Saturn and Neptune will be close to the horizon and the sun, making them especially tricky to view. The planets will be toward the west, so you'll want to pick a spot with a clear view of the western horizon. The concept of a planetary alignment is fairly common; it's the number of planets that align that can be rare, according to NASA. Each planet orbits the sun in its own path, which varies greatly from planet to planet. It's not uncommon for a few planets' orbits to briefly align from Earth's perspective, but it becomes increasingly less common the more planets. According to Starwalk, skywatchers can look forward to more planetary alignments in 2025-2026: April 17 (four planets): Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. Aug. 10 (six planets): Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn. Feb. 28, 2026 (six planets): Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida planetary alignment 2025: Here's when and how to watch
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
7 planets will be aligned Friday. View the February 2025 planetary alignment from Texas
Skywatchers will get a cosmic treat this week with a celestial gathering of planets. A planetary alignment, or a "planet parade," will grace our night sky just after dusk, according to SkyatNightMagazine. You can expect to see seven planets align Friday when Mercury joins Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn. But not all of them will be easy to see, especially with the naked eye. You'll need a good pair of high-powered binoculars or a telescope to see Uranus and Neptune. Where and when should Texans look to the sky to see the planets align? Here's what to know. Full moon calendar: When every full moon shines in 2025 in Texas Regardless of how you're viewing them, the hardest planets to see will be Saturn and Neptune because they are close to the horizon and the sun, according to StarWalk. If you can see them, they'll be toward the west just after the sun sets. The time will vary based on your location. Mercury also should be visible in the western part of the sky just after sunset. You'll have the best chance of viewing the alignment if you can find a location free of light pollution and a view of the horizon free of obstructions like trees or tall buildings. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Here are the times for planet visibility from Austin on Friday, Feb. 28, as listed by Time and Date: Planet Rise Set Meridian Visibility Mercury Friday 7:41 a.m. Friday 7:40 p.m. Friday 1:40 p.m. slightly difficult to see Venus Friday 7:58 a.m. Friday 8:50 p.m. Friday 2:24 p.m. fairly good visibility Mars Friday 2:03 p.m. Saturday 4:18 a.m. Friday 9:10 a.m. perfect visibility Jupiter Friday 11:41 a.m. Saturday 1:34 a.m. Friday 6:38 p.m. fairly good visibility Saturn Friday 7:35 a.m. Friday 7:13 p.m. Friday 1:24 p.m. very difficult to see Uranus Friday 10:33 a.m. Saturday 12:06 a.m. Friday 5:20 p.m. difficult to see Neptune Friday 7:55 a.m. Friday 7:51 p.m. Friday 1:53 p.m. extremely difficult to see It's not especially remarkable for a few planets to line up in the sky, but when we see four or five brilliant planets at once, it's less common, according to NASA. The planets orbit the sun continuously in the solar system, so at times, they slowly catch up to one another. Because they travel along the same path, or ecliptic, as they pass Earth, it appears they are aligned. The alignment formation, however, is short-lived because planets move at different speeds. With eight planets in our solar system, which includes Earth, they all have some very interesting traits. Here's a quick look at the planets aligning this month: According to Starwalk, skywatchers can look forward to more planetary alignments in 2025-2026: April 17 (four planets): Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus Aug. 10 (six planets): Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn Feb. 28, 2026 (six planets): Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter Here are some of the other celestial phenomena happening this year, according to Smithsonian Magazine: March 14: A total lunar eclipse will cast a deep red color over the full moon as it passes through Earth's shadow. Totality will last for just over one hour. March's full moon will also be a micromoon, appearing smaller and dimmer than usual as it reaches the point in its orbit farthest from Earth. March 29: In a partial solar eclipse, the moon will partly block the Sun. Canada will get some of the best views, with up to 93% coverage of the Sun. April 21-22: The annual Lyrid meteor shower will peak, offering views of 10 to 15 meteors per hour. Aug. 12-13: Another annual phenomenon, the Perseid meteor shower will peak. Though it typically offers views of 100 meteors or more per hour, 2025's shower occurs days after the full moon and will likely affect visibility of the fainter meteors. Sept. 21: Saturn will reach opposition, making its viewing the biggest and brightest of the year. The ringed planet will align with Earth and the Sun, and the side of Saturn facing Earth will be completely illuminated by the Sun. Oct. 8: Though the annual Draconid meteor shower tends to be a relatively smaller one, with a maximum of 10 meteors per hour, experts predict 2025 could see heightened activity with a meteor outburst. Oct. 22: The annual Orionid meteor shower has a longer duration of nearly two months. Its peak will see 10 to 20 meteors per hour, with the coinciding new moon producing dark skies and optimal viewing conditions. Nov. 5: The closest supermoon of the year will appear in the sky, only 221,965 miles from Earth. — USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: February 2025 planetary alignment: How to view from Texas
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
7 planets will align Friday: What to know about seeing the "planet parade" in Wisconsin
Wisconsin astronomy enthusiasts should keep their eyes in the sky Friday night. Seven planets will be aligning and you might be able to see some without a telescope. Planetary alignments occur when several planets gather closely on one side of the sun simultaneously, according to astronomy app Starwalk. This latest planetary alignment — or "planet parade" — will take place in the night sky just after dusk on Friday, BBC's SkyatNightMagazine says. Similar alignments took place last June and in January. Here's what to know about your chances of seeing the "planet parade" in Wisconsin: The next planetary alignment will be on Friday, Feb. 28, according to SkyatNightMagazine. Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will align in this "planet parade," according to StarWalk. Four of these planets have remained largely visible in the night sky throughout February: Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus and Neptune have also been in the sky, but they won't appear as bright Friday and will only be visible with a telescope, according to NASA. To view the alignment, you should find a place with a clear view of the horizon far away from light pollution, StarWalk says. The planets will be observable for a few hours after it gets dark. However, it may be difficult to see them — and not all will be visible to the naked eye, according to NASA. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are typically visible without an optical aid, NASA says, but it depends on their positioning and whether there are obstructions. In particular, Mercury and Saturn will be low in the sky for this alignment, which will make both too faint for most observers to see. More: A seven-planet alignment happens in late-February, but it could be tricky to see it Two more planetary alignments are anticipated for the rest of 2025, Starwalk says: Thursday, April 17: Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus will align Sunday, Aug. 10: Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn will align The last time all of the planets aligned was on April 8, 2024, according to Starwalk. The alignment was visible during the total solar eclipse in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Here's a list of Wisconsin spots that could offer some of the best views of Friday's planet parade: Newport State Park, Ellison Bay Driftless Region, Wisconsin Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium Kettle Moraine State Forest, Eagle Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan Parnell Tower, Plymouth Janet Loehrke and Maia Pandey contributed to this report. More: A total lunar eclipse is coming in March. Will Wisconsinites be able to see it? This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When and how to watch Friday's "planet parade" in Wisconsin
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
February planetary alignment: Skywatchers will be treated to a celestial event Friday
February planetary alignment: Skywatchers will be treated to a celestial event Friday Skywatchers will get a cosmic treat this week with a celestial gathering of planets. A planetary alignment, or a "planet parade," according to the internet, will grace our night sky just after dusk, according to SkyatNightMagazine. You can expect to see seven planets align Friday when Mercury joins Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn. But not all of them will be easy to see, especially with the naked eye. You'll need a good pair of high-powered binoculars or a telescope to see Uranus and Neptune. Where to view the planetary alignment Regardless of how you're viewing them, the hardest planets to see will be Saturn and Neptune because they are close to the horizon and the sun, according to StarWalk. If you can see them, they'll be toward the west just after the sun sets. The time will vary based on your location. Mercury also should be visible in the western part of the sky just after sunset. You'll have the best chance of viewing the alignment if you can find a location free of light pollution and a view of the horizon free of obstructions like trees or tall buildings. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. More: There's still time to see the 'planet parade' that began in January: Here's what's visible Is a planetary alignment unusual? It's not especially remarkable for a few planets to line up in the sky, but when we see four or five brilliant planets at once, it's less common, according to NASA. The planets orbit the sun continuously in the solar system, so at times, they slowly catch up to one another. Because they travel along the same path, or ecliptic, as they pass Earth, it appears they are aligned. The alignment formation, however, is short-lived because planets move at different speeds. Profiles of the planets With eight planets in our solar system, which includes Earth, they all have some very interesting traits. Here's a quick look at the planets aligning this month: When will the planets align again? According to Starwalk, skywatchers can look forward to more planetary alignments in 2025-2026: April 17 (four planets): Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. (four planets): Neptune, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. Aug. 10 (six planets): Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn. (six planets): Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn. Feb. 28, 2026 (six planets): Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter. CONTRIBUTING Jim Sergent SOURCE BBC and NASA
