By January 22, a unique astronomical event will occur in the sky - a complete parade of the planets closest to Earth: Mercury, Venus, and Mars, according to the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the IKI RAS. The planets will line up near the Sun in an almost perfect rhombus or cross, with a side size of 2-3 degrees, after which the configuration will begin to fall apart.
Venus and Mars already approached the Sun last Christmas, forming a rare conjunction that, according to astronomers, will not be repeated in the next two centuries. Now Venus is shifting to the left of the Sun, and Mars is to the right. Mercury appears in the latest space images as a bright "star" on the right and moves towards the center of the frame, towards the solar disk. Venus and Mars are still hidden behind a coronagraph, which blocks bright sunlight for observations.
According to experts, in a few days both planets will emerge from the blockade and become visible in new images. After January 22, the fastest planet - Mercury - will leave the parade before the end of the month. In February, Venus and Mars will join it, and their symmetrical configuration will be completed. The next noticeable convergence of all three planets near the Sun will occur only in September 2038.