Those looking skywards during the Spring Equinox tomorrow (March 20) can expect to see an incredible celestial phenomenon.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the crescent moon are all expected to appear in the sky just before dawn on Friday morning, reports Hull Live.
Mercury will also peek above the horizon and will be very close to the Sun.
As the month progresses, these planets are expected to come much closer together.
Experts say it will be the earliest March equinox in 124 years, with the last one occurring in 1896.
For news tailored to your local area, powered by In Your Area:
Royal Observatory astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer told the PA news agency: “This year, the northern hemisphere will mark its spring equinox on March 20, at about 3.50am.
“The upcoming equinox marks the start of astronomical spring, and historically keeping an eye on the motions of celestial objects was important for timekeeping.
“In turn, accurate astronomy was vital for farmers, seafarers, religious observations, and indeed anyone who wanted to keep track of things.”
Astronomical spring is different from meteorological spring, which commenced on March 1.
The Latin word equinox translates to “equal night”.
Dr Bloomer told PA: “Equinoxes are commonly thought to mark when the daytime and nighttime periods are the exact same length.
“Unfortunately, that’s not actually true, but as a general rule we’ll soon begin to notice that the days are longer and the nights are shorter as we head towards the summer months.”
While the precise moment of the upcoming equinox will occur when the Sun is below the horizon in the UK, Dr Bloomer said there are other events skygazers can look forward to in the evening.
Dr Bloomer said: “Venus is clearly visible towards the west – it will look like a really bright star – and as the Sun sets, the bright star Sirius is almost exactly due south.
“Close by, take the opportunity to have a look at the constellation Orion: as we move through astronomical spring, we’ll soon get to the point when it won’t be up during the night.”
Meanwhile, celebrations to mark the spring equinox at Stonehenge have been cancelled by English Heritage, which manages the site, following Government advice on Covid-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus.
