This month, stargazers will have the chance to witness an extremely rare “planet parade,” where almost all the planets will be visible together with the naked eye in one night.
What is a Planet Parade?
A planet parade, or planetary alignment, is when several planets in the solar system appear grouped together in the sky. Despite their still distant positioning from one another in space, their orbit aligns with such closeness in our perspective from Earth. Even the moon joins in sometimes!
Which Planets Will Be Visible?
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus should be very easy to spot, shining brightest on or about January 25. In fact, if you look very closely, you might be able to spot two of them tonight as well!
Read more: Planet 9: Hypothetical or an Undiscovered World?
Why Does This Happen?
These planets now present the appearance of groupings because, as said by astrophysicist Dr Rebecca Allen, they presently orbit on one side of the Sun. Still, in reality, millions of miles separate them from each other or us.
Best Time and Tips to Spot Them
On January 19, Venus and Saturn will experience a conjunction, appearing as close neighbours in the night sky. Soon after, four other planets will enter the scene on the evening of January 21: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn (only Mercury will be missing).
The best time to see the planet parade is about an hour after sunset. Facing north, look to the left to see Venus and Saturn as a bright pair. Jupiter will be on the right and Mars will follow later, glowing red.
For extra help, use a star-mapping app like ‘Stellarium‘ or ‘Star Walk.‘ These apps can guide you to the planets and make stargazing easier.
The planet parade will be visible in most, if not all, locations in the US, Canada and Mexico, thanks to its long length and limited planetary movement. It will also be seen in India, at 7 pm local time on the 25th of January. While there are no official reports of the parade being visible in Pakistan, I’d suggest going to your roofs today, on 21 January and 25 January, and you might just witness the magic.
The planet parade is just one of many exciting celestial events this year. Expect a total lunar eclipse, meteors and even Saturn’s rings seemingly disappearing. Moreover, the night sky is full of surprises, so keep looking up!
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.