Additional Coverage:
- How to see the planets align: We show when and where to view (newsbreak.com)
Get ready for a celestial show! Six planets will seemingly align in the night sky this January, visible just after dusk.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus will be bright enough to see with the naked eye. However, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot Uranus and Neptune.
While a few planets aligning isn’t unusual, seeing four or five together is a rarer treat. This particular alignment began last week, will reappear this week, and peak in early February.
This “planet parade” happens because the planets orbit the sun on a similar path. As they catch up to each other, from Earth’s perspective, they appear to line up. This alignment will be brief because each planet orbits at a different speed.
Look to the southern sky about 90 minutes after sunset to see the alignment. It should be visible across most of the Northern Hemisphere, weather permitting. Even with optical aids, Uranus and Neptune will appear faint.
Mercury won’t be part of this alignment, hidden behind the sun.
Mark your calendars! Seven planets will align on February 28th, and another six-planet alignment will occur on August 29th, 2025.
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- How to see the planets align: We show when and where to view (newsbreak.com)