For millennia, humans have gazed at the sky, captivated by the stories unfolding before their eyes every night. Ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians, Greeks, and various Chinese dynasties, documented planetary alignments throughout their history.

This month, residents across B.C. will have the rare opportunity to witness this celestial event, which happens once every century.

The alignment of six planets will begin on Jan. 21, featuring Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus simultaneously. 

Canadian astronomer and former University of Victoria researcher David Balam noted that cosmic phenomena like mini and small planetary alignments B次元官网网址� featuring up to three or four planets B次元官网网址� are B次元官网网址渇airlyB次元官网网址� common. However, large alignments, involving up to six planets are especially rare. 

B次元官网网址淓very couple of years you get two planets sitting on the horizon,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut, when you start getting six planets all in the same place at the same timeB次元官网网址� that happens about every 100 years or so.B次元官网网址�

This celestial event occurs when the planets' orbits align briefly during their revolution around the sun, Balam mentioned.  

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, takes nearly 12 years to orbit the sun, while Mercury, the smallest, completes its revolution in just 88 days.

Neptune, with the longest orbit of any planet, takes about 165 years to circle the sun, while Venus, often called Earth's twin, takes 225 days.

Having all six planets within the same observable time window explains the rarity of this planetary waltz.

Contrary to stars that can fade in the night sky due to light pollution, the planets will be visible even from urban areas, said Balam. Planets, which emit a "very steady light," are more easily distinguishable from stars, which twinkle (or scintillate).

B次元官网网址淭he planets are bloody bright. Venus is so bright at times that you can sometimes see your shadow from the light coming from [it]. Mars is just a really bright red-orangey planet.B次元官网网址�

However, to see Neptune or Uranus, stargazers will need help from modern technology as the two planets wonB次元官网网址檛 be observable to the naked eye.

B次元官网网址淵ou could see Uranus with a pair of good binoculars and you'd need a telescope to see Neptune.B次元官网网址�

Unlike the fleeting 2024 total solar eclipse that rapidly swept across North America, Balam noted that this celestial event will span several weeks, ending in February.

B次元官网网址淚t's not a single event. The planets will be sitting down there in the same region. Now Venus will disappear quickly because it's on a quick orbit and will be gone probably first after about a week and a half."

Observable across Canada, the astronomer mentioned that all one needs to do is go outside and look southwest after sunset to witness the planetary parade.

For those who stick around long enough, all eight planets will be visible on May 6, 2492, in the same patch of sky B次元官网网址� an event which happens roughly once every 400 years - though they wonB次元官网网址檛 form a perfect line.

Anyone hoping to witness a perfect planetary alignment, however, will need to wait a little longer, as this phenomenon occurs once every 396 billion years.