Planet parade and blood moon: scientists reveal the astronomical events to watch for this spring.

Planet Parade

On February 28, 2025, shortly after sunset, a rare alignment of seven planets in the Solar System will occur: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars will line up in the sky. This event coincides with a new moon, creating favorable conditions for observing even faint objects. Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn will require binoculars or a telescope. In Perm, the optimal time will be from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM local time, right after sunset, towards the western horizon. Residents of other regions in Russia and the Northern Hemisphere will also be able to witness this phenomenon, provided the weather is clear and there is no light pollution.

It is quite common for several planets to be on one side of the Sun at the same time, but alignments of most or even all planets happen much less frequently. A simultaneous appearance of five or six planets is called a major alignment, with five-planet alignments occurring significantly more often than six-planet ones, while seven-planet alignments are certainly the rarest of all.

— This time, some planets will be visible even without special optics: Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury will be seen in the western sky, while the red planet Mars will be positioned in the east. Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune will not be discernible without binoculars or a telescope. Speaking of the arrangement of planets in the Solar System, Mars will be high above the southern horizon in the constellation Gemini. Jupiter will be lower, in the constellation Taurus. Uranus will be in the constellation Aries, near the border with Taurus. Venus will be low above the western horizon in the constellation Pisces, Neptune will also be in Pisces but closer to the horizon (a telescope will be required to observe it), and Mercury and Saturn will be very close to the horizon and the Sun, making them difficult to observe, — explains Evgeny Burmistrov, an astronomy instructor and deputy director of the Polytechnic School at Perm Polytechnic University.

It is important to remember that from a scientific perspective, this phenomenon does not have a significant physical impact on Earth or humans. The gravitational influence of the planets on our planet is so minimal that it cannot cause any significant changes or cataclysms.

Blood Moon

On March 14, 2025, the Moon will take on a rich reddish or honey hue, known as a blood moon. The eclipse will be visible in the evening across most of Russia, provided the weather is clear. No special equipment is required for observation; simply find a location with an unobstructed view of the sky away from city lights.

— During a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, blocking direct sunlight, our satellite takes on a rich reddish hue. This occurs due to the refraction of sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere. Some light, bending around the Earth, reaches the Moon, with shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) scattering, while longer wavelengths (red and orange) dominate. This process, known as Rayleigh scattering, is similar to how the blue color of the sky is created during the day and the red hues at sunset, — explains Evgeny Burmistrov.

What other colors can the Moon have during an eclipse?

The color of the Earth's satellite in the night sky can change due to various factors, creating stunning and sometimes unexpected displays. Most often, we see it as white or silver — this is the most common appearance, especially on clear nights when the Moon reflects white sunlight without significant spectral changes.

— When it is low on the horizon, it often takes on a yellow or orange tint. This happens because the light passes through a denser layer of the atmosphere, where shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) scatter, and longer wavelengths (yellow and orange) reach our eyes. Although the term "blue moon" is quite popular, seeing one in reality is a rare occurrence. A blue hue may appear if particles of a certain size are present in the Earth's atmosphere, such as after large fires or volcanic eruptions, which selectively scatter light, — explains the astronomy instructor at the Polytechnic School of PNIUP.

A green or purple tint of the satellite is an even rarer phenomenon, usually caused by a unique combination of atmospheric conditions, such as various types of aerosols and dust.

Partial Solar Eclipse

According to Evgeny Burmistrov, on March 29, 2025, there will be a partial solar eclipse during which the Moon will cover part of the solar disk. The phenomenon will be visible in some regions of Russia, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

For safe observation, it is necessary to use special solar filters or glasses designed for viewing solar eclipses. The exact time and degree of solar coverage will depend on the observer's specific location, says the expert.

Should we expect magnetic storms?

As we remember, significant solar activity was observed in August 2024. It marked the peak of the current cycle in terms of the number of sunspots, with the strongest flares occurring in May and October of the previous year. The "calm" at the end of 2024 is considered by scientists from different countries to be just a temporary pause.

— Scientific centers note that it is impossible to create a "schedule" for flares and storms. This is because active centers on the Sun usually last no more than 2–4 weeks. Consequently, the groups of spots that will determine activity in the upcoming year have not even formed yet. At the same time, scientists do not expect that the peak of solar activity will be significantly higher than the values of the previous summer, and scenarios of doubling or tripling the number and intensity of flares and magnetic storms are completely excluded, — explains Evgeny Burmistrov, an astronomy instructor and deputy director of the Polytechnic School at Perm Polytechnic University.

The solar cycle, which lasts about 11 years, is a period of fluctuations in solar activity related to changes in its magnetic field. It begins with a minimum number of spots on the surface, then the number increases to a maximum, accompanied by flares, after which activity falls again. Upon reaching Earth, these flares can influence the planet's magnetic field and potentially affect the well-being of some individuals, causing headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms. However, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to support this connection. Furthermore, flares can cause radio interference, affecting communication systems.

At the same time, solar activity causes ionization of the upper layers of the atmosphere, leading to the appearance of beautiful auroras.

Disappearance of Saturn's Rings

In March 2025, an astonishing astronomical event will occur: Saturn's rings will disappear from view.

— This is associated with a phenomenon called tangential passage or the minimum angle of inclination of the rings relative to the Earth. Saturn, whose axis of rotation is tilted at about 26.7°, displays its rings from various angles depending on its position in orbit. The rings, lying in the plane of the planet's equator, are best seen when the angle between our view and this plane is greatest. Saturn orbits the Sun approximately every 29.5 years, and at certain moments, its rings are oriented towards the Earth exactly "edge-on." At this moment, the angle of view is minimal, and the rings become almost invisible, — explains the expert from Perm Polytechnic University, Evgeny Burmistrov.

In March 2025, a moment will arrive when Saturn's rings will be almost perpendicular to the line of sight from Earth. Due to the incredibly thin structure of the rings, which are only a few dozen meters thick, they will become barely discernible even in powerful telescopes.

After March, the angle of inclination of the rings will gradually begin to increase, and over the next few years, they will again become clearly visible. By 2030, the angle will reach its maximum value, after which the reverse process will begin, and the rings will start to "disappear" again.

Meteor Showers

This spring in Perm, two major meteor showers are expected: the Lyrids and the Eta Aquariids. They will be visible not only in Perm but also across most of the Northern Hemisphere, from locations on Earth where the constellations after which the showers are named (Lyra and Aquarius) are visible. The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors, sometimes leaving noticeable trails. They gained fame due to unexpected outbursts when the number of meteors sharply increases. For example, in 1982, around 90 meteors per hour were recorded, and in other years, there were even more. They can be observed from April 16 to April 25, 2025, with the peak activity occurring on the night of April 21-22, reaching an intensity of 18 meteors per hour.

The meteors of the Eta Aquariid shower often leave glowing trails (meteor tails) that can be visible for several seconds after the comet fragment has burned up. Their period of activity will begin on April 19 and last until May 28