Rizal Park promenaders witnessed a special show last Sunday, May 5, 2002. No, it's not the regular Concert at the Park held every Sunday at the Open Air Auditorium. Neither the religious zealot proclaiming the impending end of the world is near, nor a self - proclaimed prophet asserting his religion as the absolute true faith. It's not the Santacruzan that signaled the Maytime festival at Park.

    The occasion was the first Astronomical Observation held at the Luneta Boardwalk that was organized by the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS) in cooperation with the Philippine Tourism Authority.

    Promanaders witnessed the grand parade of planets, known to astronomers a Planetary Alignment, a world class pageantry in itself.

    The alignment of planets began in early January 2002, when the four planets were in favorable view in the twilight. Mercury disappeared in the third week of January, while Venus emerged from the twilight glow in late February. In late April and early May 2002, during Mercury's best appearance of the year, all five naked - eye planets are visible simultaneously in the western sky.

    The Astronomical observation last May 5 started as early as 4 p. m. when members of the Philippine Astronomical Society arrived with their telescopes.

    Using solar filters, the budding astronomers were able to observe the disc of the Sun and the sunspots. They were also given an impromptu lecture by PAS members about how sunspots form.

    After the Sun has set at about 5: 30 the number of observers swelled from a hundred to an unbelievable thousand of spectators of all ages.

    They started to hunt for the first brightest "star" expected to come out anytime in the afternoon. Finally, the "bright star" emerged. It's the planet Venus, the brightest object in the evening sky next only to the moon!

    Then followed by the brightest star Sirius in the constellation Canis Minor. Then came the planet Jupiter directly above zenith, and Saturn, and Mars, and unexpectedly the elusive planet Jupiter about to set in the western horizon.

    Venus, Saturn and Mars formed a beautiful triangle formation. A very rare phenomenon that will not be repeated until 2060. Luneta skywatchers were more than fortunate because Mercury is seldom seen by the naked eye because it is always hidden by the glare of the Sun.

    The gathering of people in the Luneta Boardwalk seemed to be an ecumenical gathering of all religious denomination rather than a scientific gathering.

    There were Buddhist monks who came. Fortunately, several PAS members could speak their dialect to interpret to them the happenings going on. There were also a group of Indian nationals who came. Fortunately, several PAS members could speak their dialect to interpret to them the happenings going on. There were also a group of Indian nationals who came.

    There was also a group of Filipino religious nuns who came. Fortunately everybody could understand their dialect. What shocked everybody was when she saw the ring of Saturn through one of the telescopes and at the top of her voice kept on shouting " Oh my God! It's beautiful! Oh my God! It's beautiful! "

    PAS members understood her feelings. We can also see God in the glory of his creation. It was almost 8 p.m. when the three planets, Venus, Saturn and Mars emerged at the western horizon. But there still a number of spectators who were forming their line to see the planet Jupiter and its many moons. But we had to cap the night.

    On May 15, 2002 members of the Philippine Astronomical Society will go back to the site for another observation of the greatest show on earth, the World Class Planetary Alignment of 2002.