Observing the planets it’s one of the most awe-inspiring ways to witness the magic of the night sky – and there’s no better way to see it than through a planetary system. This is where many planets line up next to each other.
On January 21, six planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – will be perceptible in the sky simultaneously, and their alignment will be easily perceptible from almost all parts of the globe. However, if you miss the opportunity to observe the night sky on January 21, don’t worry: there’s plenty of time to see this parade of planets.
Leveling will be perceptible for about a month, until mid-to-late February. However, the planetary positions will change during this time, so their positions on January 21 will not be the same as their positions at the end of February.
While conjunctions of two planets are quite common, juxtapositions of five or more planets are quite scarce. This year there will be two more planetary alignments involving five or more planets, but then another alignment of five or more planets this will happen no earlier than 2040.
Here’s everything you need to know to see this planetary alignment.
How to watch
For the best view, wait 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the murky. You’ll want to see this planetary alignment after sunset and from a location away from artificial featherlight that makes it tough to see objects in the night sky.
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus will appear in an arc from east to west. Four of these planets can be seen with the naked eye; however, two of them – Uranus and Neptune – require good, high-powered binoculars or a home telescope. Below we describe exactly where to look for each planet in the night sky on the 21st, but if you’re not sure how to find them, don’t worry – apps like Stellarium can facilitate you locate planets and other celestial bodies easily.
When to watch
The best time to view the planets is just after sunset, as three of them – Venus, Saturn and Neptune – set between approximately 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. local time. Please note that the exact rising and setting times of each planet will vary slightly depending on your location on Earth; you can utilize the website, e.g Time and date to find the exact time for where you are.
If possible, it’s best to start observing the sky earlier in the evening because Venus, Saturn and Neptune will move lower towards the horizon before sunset, making them increasingly tough to see as the evening progresses.
Mars
On January 21, Mars will be in the east, directly under the constellation Gemini. Mars has just reached opposition – meaning Earth is directly between it and the Sun – so the Red Planet will be at its largest and brightest, and will be perceptible all night long.
Mars can be easily seen with the naked eye. But if you utilize a backyard telescope, you’ll be able to see it ice cap at the North Pole, extending over 600 milesand Valli Marineristhe largest canyon in the solar system, running along the equator of Mars and over 3,000 km long.
Jupiter
Jupiter will be west of Mars, in the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter is easily perceptible to the naked eye. However, high-powered binoculars will allow you to see Jupiter’s moons and perhaps its cloud bands.
A home telescope will allow you to see the giant planet in even greater detail. Look for Jupiter’s cloud bands and its stunning Red Spot, or anticyclone over 10,000 miles wide—1.3 Earth widths. The Red Spot is not always perceptible from Earth because Jupiter’s days last about 10 hoursmeaning that on many nights the storm spends a significant portion of its time facing Earth. You can utilize this calculator from Sky & Telescope to see when it may be perceptible from your location.
Jupiter will be perceptible most of the night: rising from noon to slow afternoon on January 21 and setting between about 3 and 5 a.m. on January 22, depending on your exact location.
Uranium
On the 21st, Uranus will be about 50 degrees west of and slightly below Jupiter. Uranus will seem to be close Pleiadesa dazzling star cluster perceptible to the naked eye.
You’ll need high-powered binoculars or a backyard telescope to see Uranus, as it is too dim to easily see with the naked eye. This equipment makes Uranus look like a star with a pale blue tint. Although Uranus has rings, they are too pale to see even with observing equipment. However, if you have a powerful backyard telescope, you can potentially see its moons.