Photo of space

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If you like your science fiction with a little more science than fiction and your astrology with a heavy side of astronomy, you’re in luck in January. This month has been one of the best for star-gazing and one of the most spectacular celestial displays of planetary magic is coming up on Saturday, Jan. 25.

 

The real sky story

It’s not quite what everyone on social media is hyping it up to be, and the planets won’t magically line up in a perfect formation. However, six planets — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — will be visible on Jan. 25, creating an extraordinary celestial display.

The planets in our solar system all orbit the sun in roughly the same flat plane, called the elliptic. From Earth, we see this plane as a line across our sky—the same path that the sun and moon appear to follow.

Because of this, any planets visible in the sky will always appear somewhere along this imaginary line. So in a way, the planets are always “lined up” from our point of view on Earth, but this particular event is special because six planets will be simultaneously visible.

 

What you’ll actually see

These planets will shine brightly in the evening sky and be seen by the naked eye:

  • Venus
  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Saturn 

A telescope will be required to view Uranus and Neptune.

 

How can you get the best view?

Here are some tips to get the most bang for your starry buck.

Viewing Strategy

  • Start around 6:30 p.m.
  • Look west to see Venus shining brilliantly
  • Find Saturn slightly to the left of Venus
  • Turn east to spot Jupiter high in the sky
  • Look for Mars on the eastern horizon with an orange hue

 

Pro Tips

  • Use a stargazing site (or app) like The Sky Tonight to help locate planets
  • Bring binoculars to spot Uranus and Neptune
  • Choose a location with clear, unobstructed views of the horizon
  • The best viewing period is between Saturday, Jan. 25, and Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

Even though this can be a beautiful astronomical moment, the key is managing expectations and keeping an open mind. Every planet may not be visible to every sky-watcher’s eye, and the less experienced observers may not get the whole picture.

Some star lovers may prefer to avoid the cold and watch from the couch by using sites like NASA Live or The Live Planet Parade.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Macon Telegraph.

Tags: Space  stargazing  Georgia  planets