Planetary parade in November - When and where Kazakhstanis will see it
When is the next planetary alignment?
In mid-November, residents of Kazakhstan can witness a small planetary alignment as Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter gather in a single sector of the morning sky. The most ideal date for observation is November 14, though the convergence will be visible for several days around this date.
According to astronomical calendars, the planets will be most visible shortly before sunrise.
Planetary alignment calendar for 2026–2027
According to Star Walk, this will be the final planetary alignment of 2026. However, astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to four such events in 2027:
April 18 — Small alignment (4 planets): Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune (morning).
July 2 — Large alignment (5 planets): Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (morning).
September 18 — Mini alignment (3 planets): Mercury, Venus, and Mars (evening).
December 25 — Large alignment (6 planets): Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (evening).
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Where and when to look in Kazakhstan
According to Svetlana Moshkina, a specialist at the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute (AFIF), all four planets will be visible approximately 45–50 minutes before dawn.
"On November 14, just before sunrise, a small alignment of four planets—Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury—can be observed. Mars rises above the horizon shortly before midnight, around 11:30 PM. Forty minutes later, at approximately 12:10 AM, Jupiter appears above the horizon. Both planets will move through the constellation Leo and remain visible until morning. Mercury and Venus, however, will only appear shortly before sunrise," the expert explained.
For residents of Almaty, only Mars and Jupiter will be visible, as the mountains will block the view of Venus and Mercury. In other regions of Kazakhstan with open eastern and southern horizons, all four planets can be seen if weather conditions are favorable.
"Mars, Jupiter, and Venus are very bright and easily spotted with the naked eye. However, to see Mercury, you will need binoculars or an amateur telescope," Svetlana Moshkina added.
What is a planetary alignment?
According to Svetlana Moshkina, a planetary alignment occurs when several celestial bodies—ranging from three to seven—appear in a relatively small sector of the sky on the same side of the Sun as seen from Earth.
There is also the concept of a "planetary conjunction"—the moment when celestial bodies reach their minimum angular distance from one another. In June, Almaty-based photographer Dmitry Dotcenko captured such a rare event, filming Venus and Jupiter converging directly above the Kok-Tobe TV tower.
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Types of planetary alignments
Alignments are categorized into four main types based on the number of visible planets:
Mini alignment: 3 planets.
Small alignment: 4 planets (e.g., Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter).
Large alignment: 5 or 6 planets appearing simultaneously in the night or pre-dawn sky.
Great (Full) alignment: Almost all major planets of the Solar System gathering in one sector of the sky.
How often do alignments occur and how do they look from Earth?
According to data from the Space, planets appear regularly in the night sky; however, an alignment of four or more planets is a rare event that occurs once every few years. Currently, we are in the midst of a particularly active period for planetary alignments.
From Earth, planets do not form a perfectly straight line but rather align along a visible arc known as the ecliptic. This happens because all planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane, and we observe this disk edge-on from our perspective within the "race."
When was the last planetary alignment?
According to the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute (AFIF), the last major planetary alignment was observed this year from August 9 to 14. At that time, six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—gathered on one side of the sky.
Does a planetary alignment affect humans or the Earth?
Many internet users are questioning whether planetary alignments affect human health. The Institute of Astrophysics clarified that this phenomenon has no physical impact on people.
"Planetary alignments have no effect on either people or the Earth. They do not cause illness, natural disasters, or other unusual phenomena. Only the Sun and the Moon can influence human well-being," noted Svetlana Moshkina, a specialist at the institute.
When the full planetary alignment will occur
Foreign media outlets have cited two different dates for global planetary alignments. The discrepancy lies in how scientists and astronomers account for the Earth.
For instance, according to the Star Walk project, on February 3, 2034, seven planets will be visible in the sky simultaneously: Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn.
However, according to calculations by Beauty of Planet, an even rarer phenomenon will occur on November 7, 2176: every single planet in the solar system, including Earth, will be positioned on one side of the Sun. This massive alignment will be visible from Earth shortly after sunset.