Here's how you can witness rare 'Parade of Planets' phenomenon this Feb. 28
Want to see something really cool in the sky this February? The University of the Philippines (UP) is hosting a stargazing event to view the "Parada ng mga Planeta"—a rare alignment of seven planets!
The university's National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED) has announced that is holding a stargazing session, where you can witness the "Parada ng mga Planeta" on Feb. 28.
"Immerse yourself in the wonders of the universe at Parada ng mga Planeta, where planets align in a rare celestial event. Enjoy an evening of telescope viewing of different planets as we celebrate this rare celestial moment together," the department said.
The event will take place at NISMED's observatory, which is touted to house one of the country’s most powerful and most modern telescopes. You can start stargazing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Learning about the cosmos and witnessing a rare planetary alignment does not require one to empty their wallet as the event is free. Just keep in mind that it is open to all on a first-come, first-served basis, so you may want to arrive early to avoid possible long lines.
However, you can avoid all that by availing of NISMED's gold pass promo. With this, you'll have perks such as a dedicated entry line, having early access at 5:00 p.m., getting a chance to operate the dome and the big telescope, bringing a plus one, receiving a special souvenir, and being featured on NISMED TV.
To win the pass, just like and follow their pages, NISMED TV, UP NISMED Observatory, and UP NISMED. You must also like and share their Facebook post and tag five friends in your caption.
Make sure to set your post to public so that they may be able to see it.
Entries will be accepted until Feb. 25. The ten winners will be announced the following day.
You can also get tickets for the Parada ng mga Planeta through this link.
NISMED noted, "To ensure a smooth ticketing process for Parada ng mga Planeta, please note that each ticket must have a unique name. Orders containing multiple tickets under the same name will be canceled in the coming days."
"If your order is canceled, you may place a new order only if there are still available slots," they added.
Apart from UP, SM Lanang in Davao City and SM Seaside Cebu in Cebu City will also be holding their own stargazing night in the coming days.
SM Lanang will hold theirs on Feb. 22 at the North Wing Grounds where telescopes will be made available while SM Seaside Cebu's will take place on Feb. 28 at The Skypark in Ampitheater 2 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You must register for the session at SM Seaside Cebu through the SM Malls Online app.
You can also head to the Planetarium of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophyiscal and Astronomical Services Administration in Quezon City, which is open from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The admission fee is P25 per person.
