Rare 'planet parade' captured: Astrophotographer shares mesmerising picture of 7-planet alignment

Rare Seven-Planet Alignment Captured Over Somerset’s Night Sky. (Image: Josh Dury)

Gazing at the night sky, astrophotographer Josh Dury captured a breathtaking sight. Seven planets aligned in a rare celestial display on 22 February. The photograph, taken from the Mendip Hills in Somerset, shows a planetary parade stretching across the sky.

Dury described the moment as both thrilling and challenging. "It was a rare chance to photograph all planets together," he told Space.com. The alignment offered a brief window to capture them all in one frame.

A Complex and Precise Capture
Capturing all seven planets required patience and technical skill. Venus, Jupiter and Mars were visible without aid. However, spotting Saturn and Mercury needed a clear horizon. Uranus and Neptune, being dimmer, required binoculars or a telescope.

Dury used a Sony A7S II with a Sigma 15mm Diagonal Fisheye. To photograph Mercury, Saturn and Neptune, he relied on multiple exposures. One image captured the base panorama, while another had higher ISO settings. This helped reveal the faint light from these distant planets. Dury then verified their positions using sphere maps.

"The challenge was their proximity to the sun," he said. Capturing all seven in one frame made the effort worthwhile.

The photograph, taken from the Mendip Hills in Somerset, shows a planetary parade stretching across the sky. (Image: Josh Dury)

A Rare Spectacle Visible Until March
Planetary alignments like this don’t happen often. The next similar event won’t be until October 2028. However, skywatchers still have time to witness this one.

For the best view, head outside at dusk and find Venus. It shines brightly in the west-southwest sky. From there, follow the arc of the ecliptic to locate the others. Jupiter appears high in the south, while Mars glows near Gemini. A clear horizon is needed to spot Mercury and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune remain challenging but are visible with binoculars.

For those wanting to capture the event, a good telescope or camera helps. Guides on astrophotography can assist in finding the best equipment.

(Inputs from Space.com)