Six planets are due to align and be visible over the coming days in Nanaimo and Oceanside, part of a relatively rare celestial event. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

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Clear Nanaimo skies offering prime ‘planetary parade’ viewing

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NANAIMO — Mother Nature is cooperating to allow for some peak viewing of a somewhat rare astronomical event.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 18 and continuing for several weeks, six planets will be aligned and visible in the night sky over central Vancouver Island shortly after sunset, following a path called the ecliptic.

Dr. Gregory Arkos, an astronomy professor at Vancouver Island University, told NanaimoNewsNOW Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be glowing extra bright, while Uranus and Neptune could be spotted with some extra equipment such as binoculars or a telescope.

“Sometimes the planets kind of bunch up as they travel different speeds around the sun, and they end up in one chunk of the sky at the same time. I like [planetary] parade because it sounds like the plants are literally marching along this line, which is what they’re kind of doing.”

Arkos said the astronomical show will change somewhat over the coming weeks as different planets go out and come into view.

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Mercury, currently below the horizon from our view, will appear in February, while Venus and Saturn will become less visible.

But for now, one of our closest neighbours is one to watch.

“Venus, which is travelling faster than the other planets, is actually moving upwards away from the sun, while Saturn is dropping downwards, and the two will get very close together, and then they’ll kind of switch their relative position. Over the next couple of nights, it’ll actually march up next to Saturn, and then be above Saturn following that.”

Best viewing will come from a spot without a lot of light pollution, with a relatively unobstructed view of the sky from the south-west to the east.

Arkos said even standing under a fully lit parking lot at VIU’s Nanaimo campus, he was able to spot several planets.

“An hour after sunset works well, although as long as my sun is down, you should start to see these guys pretty easily.”

Several smartphone apps are available for free download, which use the phone’s technology to help amateur stargazers find specific items in the sky.

Arkos added displays like this planetary parade are a direct link to the early days of humanity, as people developed more knowledge about the stars and the universe.

“When you’re looking at the planets in the sky, you’re kind of looking at the same view we had much earlier on, with a lot more understanding of what’s going on. I think that’s a cool reminder of how far we’ve come.”

Local weather forecasts are calling for relatively clear skies overnight until Tuesday, Jan. 21.

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