What Happens When The Planets Align? | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains…

I always thought that the "alignment" of the planets meant that they formed a pattern that if you drew a straight line from the center of the sun to the edge of the solar system a number of the planets would be along that line at approximately the same time. That alignment would look like they were stacked vertically. Based on the different periods of revolution around the sun, this would be a rare event.

I do love how Neil has the ability to make me feel less bad about missing out on "extraordinary" stellar events.

Have you witnessed a planetary alignment?

The way I've always understood "planetary alignment" was that one could draw a straight line through the given planets and sun when viewed from all directions.

"it's possible for something to be rare, and completely uninteresting". Love that! Wise words.

During the summer of 1991 there was an alignment of 4 planets - the Earth, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. As June progressed, you could see the other three planets in a mostly straight line in the evening sky coming closer and closer to each other. I think it was in early July they all came within one degree of each other, not perfectly aligned in that mostly straight line they had before, but they formed a tight triangle. Then, after that, they drifted apart and went their separate ways again. It was truly a sight to behold, being able to watch it get set up for weeks, and then watching it dismantle for weeks after.

I really like the visuals here! Please continue to use them as you are able to!

i was expecting to learn how often ALL the planets are actually in a straight line (or near enough). thats what ive always thought of as "planetary alignment"

I love these cats 😂. Thanks for making astronomy so fun and entertaining yet keeping it factual 🙏🏾

I’m pretty sure most everyone who is asking about planetary alignment is referring to, as Neil briefly hit upon, planetary conjunction, as in all the planets form a (relatively) straight line from the center outward.