Planets galore in the sky till mid-february

From today till mid-February, astronomy enthusiasts will be able to spot five different planets in the sky with naked eye. This phenomenon of being able to see five planets — Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury — in alignment is the first in a decade.

"The four bright ones — Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus — are pretty easy to spot. If you've got a star chart in hand. Venus, for example, will be the brightest thing up there," said Suhas Naik-Satam, programme coordinator (Scientific) of Nehru Planetarium.

All the five planets should be visible from just about anywhere on the globe except for North Pole and the view will last until February 20, therefore given plenty of opportunities for people to keep revisiting this rare celestial phenomenon.

In India or Mumbai, early risers or those who are willing to get up just before dawn, i.e. around 5 am, will be able to spot the planets on the eastern hemisphere.

"If you prefer checking it at night instead of early morning, you're in luck, the five planets will all be aligned in the evening sky come August 2016," added Naik-Satam.

For those who do not have a chart handy, can download mobile applications to spot not only the constellations but also the planets up there.

The remaining planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (which are not planets any more) are not visible with naked eye.

Check sky at 5 am towards East to see Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury planets in a line.