Check Out the January 2025 Parade of Planets in the Night Sky

by

If you’re seeking a special activity for an evening this month, consider gazing up at the night sky overhead. Throughout the month, stargazers can marvel at a celestial procession with every single planet in our solar system (except Earth) making an appearance!

In less technical settings, these planetary events might be referred to as alignments and attributed with various spiritual and mystical influences. However, Dr. Gerard van Belle, Director of Science at Lowell Observatory, likens our solar system to a record player, where each planet follows its own distinct path or track in the grand scheme of things.

Dr. van Belle explained to SYFY WIRE that all these planets orbit on tracks similar to those of a record player, with the Sun at the center like a spindle. Each planet moves at its own pace, but occasionally their speeds align, allowing us to observe multiple planets in the sky simultaneously from a particular planet, such as Earth, on a specific night.

For More on Planets

How Concerned Ought We Regarding Potential Collisions of Free-Floating Planets with Earth?

In the Event of Such a Disaster, Where Would the Ark Be Sent? A Look at the Top Exoplanets Within 25 Light-Years

The Best Destinations for Humanity’s Survival: Exploring the Most Suitable Exoplanets within a 25 Light-Year Radius

Some Planets Shrink Over Time, New NASA Data Explains the Reason Behind This Phenomenon

The Risk of Earth Collision with Rogue Planets and the Ideal Exoplanets for Our Escape (Within 25 Light-Years)

New Insights into Why Some Planets Shrink Over Time, as Revealed by Recent NASA Data

Assessing the Threat of Rogue Planets to Earth and Identifying Suitable Exoplanets for Humanity’s Migration (Within 25 Light-Years)

The Causes Behind the Shrinking of Some Planets, as Revealed in Recent NASA Studies

How to see the 2025 planet parade for yourself

Currently, during the early evening hours following sunset, you’ll have a chance to observe six celestial bodies (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) in the sky. Four of these planets are noticeable with just your eyes, with Venus and Jupiter shining particularly brightly against the backdrop of stars. The farthest two, Uranus and Neptune, will be visible only through a small telescope or binoculars. Stargazers can spot Venus and Saturn in the southwest sky while Jupiter and Mars are located in the northeast.

As a gamer, I might put it like this: “Contrary to what you might think, summoning the Men in Black isn’t necessary for this cosmic alignment we’re witnessing (currently streaming on Peacock). According to Dr. van Belle, these events are quite common. We can expect another one towards the end of February, and again in August. Right now, it’s happening more often because the outer planets take a long time to orbit the Sun, and they all happen to be on this side of the solar system at the moment, making it a frequent occurrence.

As you move away from the Sun, the time it takes for each planet to orbit (or complete one full circle) gets longer. For instance, Mercury completes its orbit in just 88 Earth days, whereas Neptune needs about 165 years. At present, all the outer planets are roughly aligned on the same side of the solar system. This alignment means that we get a spectacular show of planets passing one after another whenever the inner planets make their rounds. In essence, it’s like watching a planetary parade!

As dusk approaches, cast your gaze towards the southwest, where Venus – the sky’s second-brightest object after the Sun and Moon – and Saturn will be visible. For those with a compact telescope, viewing Saturn’s iconic rings is an exceptional sight. Meanwhile, in the northeast, Mars and Jupiter can be spotted. Known for its distinctive bands and numerous moons, Jupiter is a noteworthy celestial body.

During the initial hours after sunset, numerous celestial bodies will become visible. To fully enjoy this planetary spectacle, as suggested by Dr. van Belle, Mercury can be spotted on clear nights, appearing in the wee hours before dawn. “To catch a glimpse of that final intruder,” Dr. van Belle notes, “one must be an early bird.

Read More

2025-01-23 22:01