Rare planetary conjuction visible until February

Early morning skywatchers in the Philippines will be able to catch most of the planets lined up in the east-southeastern sky—a rare occurrence not seen in a decade.

Since the start of 2016, four planets—Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn—have been in alignment, but Mercury joined the conjuction mid-January for a five-planet conjunction that last happened in 2005.

PAGASA said that the five-planet conjuction will be visible at least until January 31, but astronomer Prof. Edmund Rosales told GMA News Online that the phenomenon will be visible through most of February.

"The conjunction will last for several weeks even up to the third week of February," he said.

"In fact, sa February 7 pa nga ang greatest elongation o farthest position ng Mercury sa Sun kaya mas visible ito katabi pa ang crescent Moon at Venus," he added. — GMA News