A rare planetary event is coming to the skies over Texas in 2025, offering sky watchers a unique opportunity to see six planets aligned at once. The event, which will last for several weeks, is expected to begin on Friday and be easily visible during the evening hours.
According to Saul Rivera, who coordinates public programs at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, four of the visible planets – Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars – can be seen with the naked eye. However, observing Neptune and Uranus requires a medium-sized telescope with an 8-inch lens or mirror diameter.
Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest in the sky, while Mars may appear redder due to its hue. Sky watchers can spot the planets by looking towards the southern horizon and scanning the sky from left to right (east to west).
What makes this event rare is the duration and number of planets involved. While planetary alignments occur at least once a year, this event stands out due to its prolonged period and involvement of six planets.
A notable feature of this event is the occurrence of several conjunctions, or “kisses,” where two celestial bodies appear close together in the night sky. One rare occurrence is a Mars occultation, where the moon blocks a planet from view. Additionally, Venus and Saturn will be visible on January 17-18 and February 1.
In addition to this event, other celestial events scheduled for 2025 include a total lunar eclipse on March 14, exceptional closeness of Jupiter and Venus on August 12, and Saturn’s rings appearing edge-on on November 8.
Source: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/parade-planets-celestial-event-2025-19976139.php