When all the planets in our solar system align on one side of the sun, this phenomenon is often referred to as a “planetary alignment”. However, it is important to note that true perfect alignment of all the planets is extremely rare and, practically speaking, it’s unlikely to occur. Instead, the term is used to describe a situation where planets appear to be somewhat in line from our vantage point on Earth.
This alignment doesn’t mean the planets are physically in a straight line in space; they are still at varying distances from each other and from the Sun. Moreover, the gravitational effects of these planets do not significantly impact each other during such events. Rather, this is a visual phenomenon based on our perspective.
Planetary alignments can be interesting for astronomers and skywatchers, providing opportunities for observation and sometimes inspiring awe about the mechanics of our solar system. However, they don’t generally have any notable effects on Earth beyond the typical influences of the individual planets.