I don't think it is simply the "planets are so far away" that allows this to be visible from everywhere on earth. Stars are very far away compared to planets, a

I don't think it is simply the "planets are so far away" that allows this to be visible from everywhere on earth. Stars are very far away compared to planets, and that distance makes them only visible from certain hemispheres (certain stars are only visible from certain hemispheres). I believe the fact that the planets are all on the ecliptic is what makes the alignments visible worldwide.