A rare celestial event, where six planets will align in the night sky and be seen with the naked eye, will unfold in the next few days. Known as the planetary parade, it offers a stellar experience to space enthusiasts and stargazers, as per NASA. And it doesn’t require a telescope, giving skywatchers the chance to witness a spectacular planetary gathering of Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Planetary parade: When and where to watch

Astronomy enthusiasts will get a chance to see the planetary parade on January 21 and January 25, when four planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – will be visible to the naked eye just after the sun goes down, while Uranus and Neptune will require a telescope. The best time to witness the stellar show is 45 minutes after sunset.

Venus and Saturn will light up the southwest, Jupiter will take centre stage in the southeast, and Mars will appear in the east. The planetary display will last about three hours, with Venus and Saturn eventually setting in the west. For the best viewing experience, find a dark location away from city lights and look towards the southwestern horizon.

How to identify the planets

Venus will be the most visible and brightest of these planets. Mars will look like a bright lightbulb because of its red colour. Saturn will appear as a tiny dot in the western sky, while Jupiter will also be similar but in the southern sky.

Uranus and Neptune can be seen as tiny, bright dots but will not be visible to the naked eye due to their distance from the other planets in the alignment.

When can you see Mercury?

Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, won’t be a part of the celestial lineup. However, by February end, one can witness Mercury joining the planetary parade. The planetary alignment will be at its peak from February 28 to March 12, offering the best view of the celestial event.

The United Kingdom is on the brink of a significant political shift as the country votes today. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is heavily favoured to win a historic mandate in the general election, marking a potential end to 14 years of Conservative rule.

According to predictions, the Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, are going to face their worst defeat in nearly two centuries.

Where to watch coverage of UK Elections 2024:

Tune in to NDTV for extensive coverage, analysis and results as they come in. Don’t miss out on the excitement as the UK prepares to elect its next government. Watch NDTV for all the latest updates and insights. 

The elections will also be covered by BBC, ITV, Sky News, Channel 4 and GB News. 

Election day

On July 4, registered voters in the UK’s 650 parliamentary constituencies will vote for their preferred candidate at polling stations set up for the day, typically located at schools or community centres.

Voters can vote in person from 7 am to 10 pm (BST) or by post beforehand. During this time, strict rules prevent any reporting or coverage related to politics or policy. 

After polls close at 10 pm, an exit poll will be announced, based on voter surveys in about 150 constituencies.

Election night timeline

• 10 pm (2:30 am IST): Exit polls

The first indicator of the election’s outcome, exit polls will be released, predicting the number of seats each party will win.

• 11 pm (3:30 am IST): Early results

The first results are expected, with Labour holds predicted in Blyth and Ashington and Houghton and Sunderland South.

• Midnight-3 am (4:30-7:30 am IST): Trickle of results

About 85 seats will be declared, including Basildon and Billericay, Swindon North and Rochdale.

• 3 am-5 am (7:30-9:30 am IST): Rush of results

The busiest period of the night, with 443 seats expected to declare, including Glasgow, Bristol and Belfast.

• 5 am-7 am (9:30-11:30 am IST): Final results

The remaining seats will be declared, with the final outcome of the election clear by 7 am.

• 7 am (11:30 am IST): A new government

The election results will be announced, and the UK will begin preparing for a new government.