Offaly weather expert advises of rare planetary alignment in skies this week

Offaly weather expert Cathal Nolan has advised star-gazers as a rare phenomenon takes place across Irish skies this week.

A rare planetary alignment will occur for the remainder of this week when seven planets align to the south and southwest just after sunset.

The alignment includes Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars.

Catch a glimpse while you have the opportunity, because another similar event is not expected to take place until 2040.

March is also full of celestial treats with a partial solar eclipse and a near full lunar eclipse on March 14 and March 29 respectively.

For more information, go to Ireland's Weather Channel on a Facebook.