Chennai, Jan 21 (Reporter) In a rare astronomical spectacle as planetary parade could be witnessed in the sky with the naked eye where in 6 planets of our solar system are lined up in a straight line. The Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Chennai is organising the Special Night Sky Observation Programme (Planetary Parade – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) for the public from January 22-from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. at the Periyar Science and Technology Centre, (Birla Platenatirum). The programme is subjected to clear sky and the public are requested to come to the venue only if the sky remains clear and avoid coming if the sky is not clear. The entry is free. Terming it as a Planetary Parade or Alignment, Mr B. Srikumar, State Co-ordinator, Ariviyal Palagai (a Science Forum), in a release here said Conjunctions are when several planets are lined up in a row in one part of the sky. It is also known as "Parade of Planets". The procession of six planets will be visible from the night of Tuesday (today) for the next few weeks. A conjunction of seven planets can be seen in the sky on February 28, 2025. "From our point of view, all of these appear to be on the same line. Each of the planets moves in a different orbit and its inclination also varies", he said. On the night of January 21, six planets namely Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn can be seen aligning. Apart from Uranus and Neptune, other planets can be seen with the naked eye. Binoculars or telescopes are required to see both these planets. On February 28, seven planets Saturn, Mercury, Friday, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus and Neptune can be seen in a straight line. A single straight line is a mystical image that we know and this event is of interest to people all over the world. What happens when planets combine? The planets are part of our solar system. At some point every year they will be found together. For a planetary conjunction to occur, three or more planets must line up closely on the same side of the Sun (when this happens between two planets, it is considered a conjunction). The farther a planet is from the Sun, the slower it rotates. Mercury, which is closest to the Sun (about 7 billion kilometers away), takes 88 days to orbit the Sun, while Neptune, which is 448 billion kms from the Sun, takes about 60,190 Earth days (or about 165 Earth years). The axis of each of the planets are tilted by a few degrees and revolve around the Sun in elliptical orbits. Mercury and Venus are inclined by two degrees. Earth is tilted about 23.5 degrees. Mars is 24 degree declination. Jupiter is at 3 point 1 degree, Saturn at 26.7 degrees, Uranus at 97.9° declination, and Neptune orbiting the Sun at 28.8 degrees declination. Although the planets appear to be next to each other to our naked eye, there is a distance of millions and billions of kilometers between each planet. As we look from far away, we get a mystical impression that they are next to each other, he said. First, on January 19, the conjunction of Venus and Saturn took place. Four other planets will enter the scene on the night of January 21; Mars, Jupiter,.Uranus and Neptune. Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune can be seen coming in a straight line. The event in which these planets will be seen together can be seen in the sky till February 28. On what would happen on Earth when planets line up, Mr Srikumar said this is a normal but infrequent occurrence. It has happened before when all these planets come in the same straight line in the sky. Even then no problem occurred to the earth. It is unscientific to assume that the problem will occur. Some people create anti-science hoaxes to create unnecessary hype and fear among people. It is wrong and misleading. "Let's enjoy seeing these planets in the same straight line in the sky, learn more about astronomy and develop a scientific attitude", he said...////...