On earth as it is in heaven: Celestial spectacle enthralls skygazers in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Around 3,000 people gathered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP) in Bengaluru on Saturday, between 6.30 pm and 10 pm, to witness a rare celestial event featuring Venus, Mars, and Jupiter through telescopes specially set up for the occasion.

Visitors eagerly queued on the planetarium premises and listened intently as experts explained the phenomenon, widely publicised on social media as the "appearance of six planets" in the night sky on January 25.

JNP Director BR Guruprasad clarified that the distant planets Uranus and Neptune were not visible to the naked eye. He said Uranus is rarely visible without a telescope, while Neptune remains perpetually beyond the reach of unaided sight.

Through the telescopes, attendees were treated to unique views of the planets. Venus appeared as a "half Venus", resembling a crescent moon. Mars was visible as a yellowish-orange globe with distinct hues. Jupiter's striking atmospheric bands and its four largest moons — visible as bright points of light — were clearly distinguishable. Meanwhile, Saturn presented itself as a small disk with its iconic rings seen as thin lines extending on either side.

The rare alignment of four planets — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn — had been observable from January 21 to 24 under clear skies. However, on January 25, thin clouds obscured Saturn, preventing its visibility.

The event also saw active participation from volunteers of the Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers, who assisted visitors and enriched their understanding of the celestial spectacle.