Planetary parade: Where and when to see in Qatar

Doha, Qatar: This week, Qatar will witness a planetary parade or when six of the eight planets in our solar system will line up Saturn, Neptune, M...

Doha, Qatar: This week, Qatar will witness a “planetary parade” or when six of the eight planets in our solar system will line up – Saturn, Neptune, Mars, Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter.

A free public event will be hosted on Tuesday, June 4, starting at 1am at Al Kharrara, allowing enthusiasts to witness this celestial phenomenon.

Qatar-based astrophotographer and founder of Everester Observatory, Ajith Everester, said that the participants will be able to observe the night sky both with the naked eye and through telescopes focused on Saturn, Mars, and the Moon. “While the early morning timing on a weekday may not be ideal for everyone,” he added, “it’s a chance not to be missed.”

Everester told The Peninsula that Saturn will be visible all week after midnight, with Neptune joining it shortly thereafter. Mars will appear around 2am, and in the pre-dawn hours, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mercury will rise on the eastern horizon. This makes Saturn and Mars the best candidates for viewing the planetary parade with or without a telescope.

For those wondering about the best time to observe, any night this week should offer a good view. However, Everester advised heading to a dark location away from city lights, with a clear view to the east, on the morning of June 4.