Astute skywatchers may have already spotted the striking line of planets across the night sky in January. This week, Mercury has joined the lineup, making every other planet in our solar system visible among the stars at the same time, provided you know where to look.

According to Dr. Gerard van Belle, the director of science at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, the alignment of seven planets is neither mystical nor rare. He compares the event to a supermoon in terms of significance, stating that while it may not be ground-breaking, it is still a great excuse to get outside and enjoy the night sky. The planetary parade, colloquially named, will allow for a lovely night out under the stars, perhaps accompanied by a glass of wine.

Whenever planets are visible in the night sky, they appear roughly along the same line known as the ecliptic, which is also the path the sun follows during the day. This occurs because the planets orbit around the sun in the same plane. Imagine a vinyl record, with the sun at the center and the planets’ orbits as the grooves surrounding it. From our vantage point on Earth, we are looking down along one of those grooves.

This week, the planets are configured in such a way that all of them will be present in the sky at dusk from most points on Earth. However, around the end of the month, Saturn will slip below the horizon and into daytime skies, bringing an end to the seven-planet parade. Don’t worry though, stargazers will have another opportunity to witness a planetary alignment in August when several celestial neighbors will be visible in morning skies.

To catch the parade, only a few of the planets can be seen with the unaided eye, and the best evening to see them all may vary depending on your location. Astronomers recommend using software like Stellarium to determine when and where to look.

To see the parade, head to a dark location with a clear view of the western horizon at nightfall. Mercury and Saturn will be low in the sky, making them difficult to spot against the fading sunlight. Trace that line of sight upward to find Venus, the most brilliant planet in the night sky. Venus is hard to miss, shining like a beacon to the west even in hazy or light-polluted areas.

Even higher up, near directly overhead, is Jupiter, sparkling at about one-tenth the brightness of Venus. The planetary lineup concludes in the eastern sky with Mars, easily identifiable by its pinkish tint. Mars recently had a close encounter with Earth, making it appear bigger and lending it a golden hue.

Uranus and Neptune are too far away to be seen without binoculars or a telescope. Uranus is about two fists west of Jupiter, while Neptune is hiding between Venus and the western horizon. Even if you can’t catch all the planets, it’s still worth bundling up and gazing at the sky. Winter is a great time for stargazing, as the sky is particularly beautiful during this season.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/science/astronomy-planets-stargazing.html