Grand Alignments: Rare Planetary Parades in the Sky

A grand alignment happens when several planets line up on the same side of the Sun.
These alignments are rare, often involving five or more visible planets.
The planets don’t form a perfect line, but appear grouped together in the sky.
A notable alignment occurred in 2000, when all 7 classical planets gathered.
Smaller alignments, with three or four planets, happen more frequently.
Ancient cultures often linked planetary parades to omens or divine messages.
They are best viewed just before dawn or after sunset, depending on the lineup.
Modern astronomy shows alignments have no effect on Earth, despite myths.
Grand alignments are stunning to the naked eye and even more striking through binoculars.
They remind us of the celestial clockwork that governs the solar system.