Aligarh: The night skies over Aligarh became a stage for one of the most breathtaking astronomical phenomena, the Planet Parade-2025, when six planets – Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Venus aligned in a spectacular celestial formation, captivating thousands of stargazers over three magical nights, from January 27 to 29, 2025.
This extraordinary event was meticulously observed through the high-powered telescope atop the Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), drawing an enthusiastic crowd of over 400 students, schoolchildren, faculty members, residents and officials., including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr. Anek Singh from District Kasganj, Mr. Rajeev Agarwal, Science Coordinator Aligarh, Mr. Jayant Gupta, Science Coordinator Kasganj, and Dr. Surabhi Gupta from Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University, Aligarh. The AMU faculty members, including Prof. B. P. Singh, Prof. Shakeel Ahmad and Prof. Shakeb Ahmad joined the young astronomy enthusiasts in witnessing this rare planetary alignment that ignited curiosity and wonder about the vast cosmos.
While delivering a talk, Prof. Anisul Ain Usmani, Chairman of the department, highlighted the pioneering work of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, whose meticulous 16th century observations paved the way for Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
He further said that plans are on anvil to transform AMU’s telescope facility into a full-fledged observatory and this initiative aims to elevate the university’s standing in astronomical research and provide students and researchers with a cutting-edge platform for celestial exploration.
“It was an inspiring journey through the cosmos, bridging the mysteries of the universe with the inquisitive minds of the observers. As the planetary alignment fades, the echoes of this celestial marvel continue to inspire a deeper appreciation for the wonders beyond our world,” added Prof Usmani.
Dr. Sudhir Gupta, Incharge, Telescope facility, emphasized the scientific significance of the planetary parade, explaining how these alignments, despite the planets being separated by hundreds of millions to billions of kilometres, offer a profound glimpse into the grand cosmic order.
A dedicated team of faculty members and technical experts from the Science Section of the University Polytechnic, including Dr. Haris Kunari, Dr. Jane Alam, Dr. Mohd. Adnan, Dr. Danish Azmi and Dr. Shafiqullah, worked tirelessly to ensure a flawless observational experience.
