Astronomers are excited about the upcoming “planet parade” in January’s night sky, where six planets will be visible at once. However, this event isn’t rare or extraordinary.
The planets’ alignment occurs because they orbit the sun along a line called the ecliptic, making them appear on a straight line from our vantage point on Earth. This phenomenon is not uncommon, and astronomers often refer to it as a planetary alignment.
Six planets will be visible in January’s night sky: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune. Four of these planets – Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars – can be seen with the naked eye. The other two, Uranus and Neptune, are fainter and require a telescope to observe.
To catch the planet parade, look for Venus and Saturn in the southwest sky after dark for the first few hours of January. Jupiter will shine brightly high overhead, while Mars rises in the east. This event is not super rare but is worth checking out, as it doesn’t happen every year.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/21/planetary-alignment-planet-parade-january-2025/77845725007