For the very first time in a decade, Singaporeans can witness a rare astronomical alignment of the following five planets, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. This celestial show happens only once in a blue moon and it can be seen from now till the end of February 2016.
As Singapore’s skies are typically bright due to our city lights, interested viewers will have to seize the early morning to catch a glimpse of this phenomenal sighting. According to the Science Centre, the best period and place to see them would be around 6am at East Coast Park.
Should your high-rise apartment unit be facing the Eastern horizon and boasts a clear unobstructed view, then you might be able to view this remarkable sighting right from the comfort of your home.
This spectacular occurrence is only visible to the naked eye before sunrise, so waking up early is definitely worth the while!
Assistant honorary secretary of the Astronomical Society of Singapore (Tasos) Mr Albert Lim said that the best time to view these planets would be at dawn, between 5.45am to 6.15am.
Besides East Coast Park, there are several other locations that offer stargazing opportunities such as the Andromeda Observatory and Science Centre Observatory.
Both observatories are home to magnificent telescopes, but be prepared to battle a crowd of eager astronomers! In this case, an early morning stroll around Changi Point Coastal Walk, Fort Canning Green and even Singapore Botanical Gardens would perhaps make great alternatives – you can even have a picnic while waiting!
If you are already making plans to observe this stellar alignment, why not start marking down your calendar on both Saturday, 6 February 2016 and Sunday, 7 February 2016? That weekend before Chinese New Year offers one of the best possible views of the five planets at 6.30am.
There is a possibility that spectators cannot differentiate the planets with other stars. Amateur Astronomers Association of New York has advised that viewers should close an eye, stretch out their arms and slowly pass his/her thumb over a potential planet sighting. If the bright dot eventually dims out when your thumb passes it, you have indeed spotted a planet.
About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.