[ti:The Planets Gather for a Show in the Evening Sky]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2025-02-28]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]All seven major planets form a kind of parade in the sky at the end of February. 
[00:08.70]Although two of the planets are not visible to the unaided eye, all are on the same side of the sun during the evening hours.
[00:20.53]This planetary grouping happens when the planets appear to line up in the night sky as seen from Earth. 
[00:29.69]They do not form a straight line, but they do stretch across the evening sky this year.
[00:37.99]The American space agency, NASA, says these astronomical gatherings are common.
[00:45.95]A parade of four or five planets visible to the unaided eye happens every few years.
[00:54.40]A similar parade took place last June, but only two planets could be seen without the use of special equipment.
[01:05.98]Six planets were visible in January.
[01:10.81]Four were visible to the unaided eye. 
[01:14.04]In recent weeks, Mercury joined the group.
[01:19.02]Venus, Mars and Jupiter are all easily visible in the evening. 
[01:26.94]Saturn is now very close to the setting sun and Mercury is close to the horizon, making both hard to see.
[01:38.17]Uranus and Neptune are the most distant planets.
[01:43.60]Uranus can be glimpsed with binoculars or a telescope under good conditions.
[01:51.59]But Neptune is now too close to the sun to be seen.
[01:58.18]Seeing the brightest planets is easy.
[02:01.78]Go outside on a clear night after sunset. 
[02:06.55]The planets will shine brighter than the stars. 
[02:11.56]Mars is a bright, reddish-orange light appearing high in the constellation Gemini. 
[02:20.39]Jupiter is very bright and a little lower than Mars toward the constellation Taurus.
[02:29.51]Venus, in the constellation of Pisces, is the brightest natural object in the sky besides the sun and moon.
[02:40.97]There are many stargazing apps available that can help identify the planets and bright stars.
[02:49.65]The planets will slowly move lower and lower in the west throughout the spring.
[02:57.67]I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.