A rare black moon is coinciding with a spectacular planetary parade in the night sky this January. According to NASA, stargazers can enjoy a clear view of four planets – Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars – aligning against the ecliptic, the plane of the solar system.
This alignment occurs when multiple planets appear along a line across the sky, but it’s worth checking out as it doesn’t happen every year. To spot the planets, head outside on a clear night after sunset and look for Venus and Saturn in the southwest, with Jupiter high overhead and Mars rising to the east. As the month progresses, Venus and Saturn will appear closer together before reaching their closest approach in mid-January.
Mars will also be at opposition this month, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual as it forms a straight line with other planets. This alignment is visible to the naked eye, but a telescope can reveal two additional planets – Uranus and Neptune.
Source: https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/planets-align-space-20017654.php