Planetary Show: A Nighttime Spectacle Unfolds

Astute skywatchers might have already caught a glimpse of the dazzling procession of planets gracing the January night sky. This week, Mercury joins the celestial lineup. Now, every other planet in our solar system will appear together among the stars—if you know where to cast your gaze.

According to Gerard van Belle, the science director at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, witnessing an alignment of seven planets isn’t mystical nor overly rare.

“If you were to compare it on a scale from supermoon to doomsday asteroid, it leans more towards a supermoon,” Dr. van Belle remarked. “However, this celestial parade, as people often call it, offers a wonderful reason to step outside at night perhaps with a glass of wine, and relish the night sky.”

Starting in late February, seven planets will align in the night sky, though glimpsing Uranus and Neptune might necessitate a telescope.

When viewed from above our solar system, these seven planets will align with the Earth’s line of sight at sunset, without being masked by the sun.

Mercury and Saturn will sit low in the sky, gently slipping past each other in the dimming glow of the sunset, making them somewhat challenging to spot.

Lift your eyes along that sight line to locate Venus, the most dazzling planet.

“You simply can’t miss Venus,” said Thomas Willmitch, director of the planetarium at Illinois State University. “Even under hazy streetlights, Venus stands out like a beacon to the west.”

Higher still, nearly overhead, you’ll find Jupiter, twinkling at roughly one-tenth the brightness of Venus.

The celestial string concludes in the eastern sky with Mars, easily recognized by its distinct pinkish hue.