See Six Planets Dance in January's Night Sky

This January, a unique celestial event is happening: six planets are visible in the night sky. This planetary get-together isn't a straight line, but they're close together on one side of the sun. Hannah Sparkes, who works at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Florida, calls this a "planetary parade. " These events occur every year, depending on how many planets are involved. Last June, only two planets were visible without special equipment. But this month, four planets are easily seen with the naked eye: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or telescopes.

Mars is particularly bright because it's opposite the sun. On Friday and Saturday nights, Venus and Saturn will be extra close, just two degrees apart. To spot them, find a clear night and go outside a few hours after sunset. Face south, and you'll see Venus and Saturn in the southwestern sky, Jupiter in the southern sky, and Mars in the southeast or east. Mars will look like a reddish-orange dot. Stargazing apps can help locate the planets. By the end of February, a faint Mercury will join the party, making seven planets visible. The planets will slowly leave the night sky as spring approaches. Seeing these planets can give us a better understanding of our place in the solar system and the universe.

Actions