All About January's Rare Planetary Alignment and How to See the 'Planet Parade'

Mar. 15, 2025

The moon, venus, and Jupiter visible with the moon at night.Photo:Matt Champlin/Getty

Matt Champlin/Getty

The stars and planetsare really aligning inJanuary.Skygazers and astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to catching a rare “planet parade” in the night sky through January. According toNASA scientist Preston Dyches, the planets “will appear more or less along a line across” during a planetary alignment.While the planets will be visible throughout the month, the best time to view the planet parade will be between Jan. 21 and Feb. 21, perCNET. While seeing the planets in the evening sky isn’t a rare sighting," NASA says it’s less common “seeing four or even five bright planets at once, which doesn’t happen every year.““That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the solar system in which the planets orbit around the Sun,” Dyches explained. “This is, incidentally, why we sometimes observe planets appearing to approach closely to each other on the sky, as we view them along a line while they careen around the cosmic racetrack.“Read on to learn more about this rare planetary alignment, including how to spot the planets in the night sky.Which planets will be visible during the planetary alignment?The Earth and moon.DWPhoto/GettyThroughout January, planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus will all be visible in the night sky. However, the best time to catch a glimpse of the planets will be on Jan. 29, the night of the new moon when the sky will be clear.When will the planets be visible?The planets and moon visible at twilight.Matt Champlin/GettyAll month long, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter will be visible as “bright planets” in the night sky the first few hours after dark, while Uranus and Neptune will not be visible without special equipment. Mars will be best visible in the west during morning twilight.Where will the planets be visible?Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the moon visible at night.Getty ImagesPer CNET, the planets will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the month. This means people in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will be able to catch a glimpse of the planet parade on a clear night.How to watch the planets in the sky?Observing the stars and planets at night.m-gucci/GettyCatching a glimpse of the planets will depend on the time of day and their relative distance from the planet at the time. For example, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are best viewed after sunset at around 7 p.m. local time while Mars is best viewed before sunrise.NASAalso reports that Venus and Saturn in particular will appear closer to each other in mid-January and will reach their closest placement between Jan. 17 and 18.You will not need special equipment to view Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky since they will be bright enough to view with the naked eye. But to view Neptune and Uranus, you will need a telescope to catch a proper glimpse into the sky.When will the next planetary alignment take place?According to theStarwalk, the next planetary alignment will be visible on Feb. 28. There, stargazers will be able to view Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars in the evening.

The stars and planetsare really aligning inJanuary.

Skygazers and astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to catching a rare “planet parade” in the night sky through January. According toNASA scientist Preston Dyches, the planets “will appear more or less along a line across” during a planetary alignment.

While the planets will be visible throughout the month, the best time to view the planet parade will be between Jan. 21 and Feb. 21, perCNET. While seeing the planets in the evening sky isn’t a rare sighting,” NASA says it’s less common “seeing four or even five bright planets at once, which doesn’t happen every year.”

“That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the solar system in which the planets orbit around the Sun,” Dyches explained. “This is, incidentally, why we sometimes observe planets appearing to approach closely to each other on the sky, as we view them along a line while they careen around the cosmic racetrack.”

Read on to learn more about this rare planetary alignment, including how to spot the planets in the night sky.

Which planets will be visible during the planetary alignment?

The Earth and moon.DWPhoto/Getty

DWPhoto/Getty

Throughout January, planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus will all be visible in the night sky. However, the best time to catch a glimpse of the planets will be on Jan. 29, the night of the new moon when the sky will be clear.

When will the planets be visible?

The planets and moon visible at twilight.Matt Champlin/Getty

All month long, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter will be visible as “bright planets” in the night sky the first few hours after dark, while Uranus and Neptune will not be visible without special equipment. Mars will be best visible in the west during morning twilight.

Where will the planets be visible?

Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the moon visible at night.Getty Images

Per CNET, the planets will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the month. This means people in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will be able to catch a glimpse of the planet parade on a clear night.

How to watch the planets in the sky?

Observing the stars and planets at night.m-gucci/Getty

m-gucci/Getty

Catching a glimpse of the planets will depend on the time of day and their relative distance from the planet at the time. For example, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are best viewed after sunset at around 7 p.m. local time while Mars is best viewed before sunrise.

NASAalso reports that Venus and Saturn in particular will appear closer to each other in mid-January and will reach their closest placement between Jan. 17 and 18.

You will not need special equipment to view Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky since they will be bright enough to view with the naked eye. But to view Neptune and Uranus, you will need a telescope to catch a proper glimpse into the sky.

When will the next planetary alignment take place?

According to theStarwalk, the next planetary alignment will be visible on Feb. 28. There, stargazers will be able to view Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars in the evening.

source: people.com