March 25, 2023
Chance To See Five Planets In The Wirral Night Sky
Recently the night sky above the Wirral Peninsula have been shining green as the northern lights danced through the darkness.
An aurora is formed by a solar flare erupting on the Sun, sending charged particles towards Earth which interact with our atmosphere and keen photographers from all over the north west have flocked to the area to try and capture the aurora borealis on camera in the early hours of the morning.
And now, after a month of stunning treats from the solar system, March 2023 is signing off with five of Earth’s neighbours, forming an arc in the sky. In a pretty rare occurrence, a set of five planets will be visible across our night sky throughout the next week.
Which Planets Will Align?
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars will all align with the moon to form an arc through the sky.
When Will All Five Planets Be Visible?
The alignment above the Wirral is believed to last from Saturday 25th March till Thursday 30th March, however it may be unlikely to see all five planets at the same time.
Experts recommend looking at the sky shortly after the sun sets. Mars will be visible the whole time, while the other planets have shorter windows of visibility.
If you’re searching the you’ll be able to spot Jupiter and Mercury for just under an hour after sunset before they sink below the horizon. Then, Venus will appear above Jupiter with Uranus sitting to the left. This duo will remain above the horizon for couple of hours.
Jupiter is believed to be obscured by sunlight after March 28, so experts recommend looking up at the sky in the nights before that to avoid disappointment.
If you’re dedicated enough, you could also catch Saturn on the eastern horizon just before sunrise on March 27 and 28.
Where Can You See All Five Planets?
The Wirral has a number of dark sky areas – these are locations where there is little light pollution, making for the best chance to observe the night sky.
Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston
Bidston Hill, Birkenhead
Leasowe Lighthouse, Moreton
Your Back Garden!
You can find out more about the Wirral night sky by visiting Wirral Country Park & Visitors Centre – Go Stargazing
Got a photo of the Northern Lights or the five planets over the Wirral you want to share?
We love seeing your shots of our Peninsula!
Liam is the founder of Liam Gretton – Wirral Estate Agent and has a vast experience in both buying and selling luxury homes on the Wirral. His expertise has led him to become one of the Wirral’s leading estate agents.
