Damascus, Feb. 27 (SANA) – The skies over Damascus are set to host a striking astronomical event on Saturday evening, as six planets appear aligned near the western horizon shortly after sunset, weather permitting.
Astronomy expert Nabil Al-Beish, a member of the advisory committee of the Syrian Astronomical Association, said the best viewing window begins after sunset twilight, when the sky darkens while the planets remain visible close to the horizon before gradually setting.
He explained that Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn can be observed with the naked eye as bright points of varying intensity, with Venus appearing the brightest, followed by Jupiter. Mercury will be the lowest above the horizon, making it harder to spot due to atmospheric scattering. Uranus and Neptune, by contrast, require binoculars or a small telescope because of their low brightness.
Al-Beish noted that the planets will set one after another, starting with Mercury, making the viewing period relatively short and progressively limited as the night advances.
He stressed that the alignment is apparent rather than physical, as the planets are not lined up in three-dimensional space but only appear so from Earth due to their similar orbital plane around the Sun.
The phenomenon poses no physical or geological effects on Earth, he added, noting that its significance lies in its scientific and visual value and in offering the public an opportunity to observe planetary motion over a brief period.
Observers are advised to choose elevated locations with a clear western horizon, away from light pollution, and to use astronomical sky-mapping applications to locate the planets accurately.
