Tonight, January 25, sky watchers are in for a treat. Five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—will line up in a stunning celestial display known as a planetary parade.
So, what exactly is a planetary parade? It’s when multiple planets align in a way that’s visible from our Earth. This year’s alignment creates a beautiful arc in the sky, making it a perfect opportunity for stargazers.
According to Hannah Sparkes, a planetarium supervisor at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Florida, these planets won’t be in a perfect straight line, but they will be closely grouped together on one side of the sun. It’s a fantastic chance to observe how planets move in relation to each other.
For those eager to see the parade, there’s good news. On January 25 at 12:30 pm ET (1730 GMT, 11:00 pm IST), astrophysicist Gianluca Masi from the Virtual Telescope Project will host a live stream. You can catch a telescopic view of all five planets during this event.
This occurrence is not only a beautiful sight but also an educational one. It provides a unique chance to learn about our solar system and how the planets travel in their orbits. These alignments, while special, happen fairly often—usually at least once a year. Last June, we had a similar event, but only two planets were visible to the naked eye then.
If you’re wondering how to catch this parade, simply look toward the western horizon after sunset. Mercury and Venus will be visible there, while Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be higher up in the sky. Mars is particularly bright tonight, shining red-orange, as it’s positioned opposite the sun. You won’t want to miss Venus and Saturn, which will appear nestled just two degrees apart in the southwestern sky.
To enhance your experience, binoculars or a small telescope can help you see details like Jupiter’s moons or Saturn’s rings. Plus, there are numerous mobile astronomy apps available to help you identify the planets and learn more about their positions in the night sky.
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Planetary Parade 2025, Celestial Event, science news, scientific events, planets, Sun, astronomical event, solar system
