Four planets will align this week during a rare nighttime phenomenon, as in early January, Venus and Saturn appear in the southwest for the first couple of hours after sunset, while Jupiter will remain higher in the sky and Mars will rise in the east, Cape {town} Etc reports.
While telescopes will be able to show Uranus and Neptune, both planets are too faint for most people to see without help, according to Earth.com.
With all this activity in the skies, many have wondered which viewing opportunity might be the most impressive.
While each ‘cosmic visitor’ has its own charm, the timing and location will be key for spotting them all. This is according to Dr. Kelly Korreck, a solar scientist at NASA Headquarters.
Currently, Mars is at opposition, meaning that it sits directly across from the Sun, from the Earth’s point of view.
During this time, Mars will glow more brightly and appear slightly larger, making it an interesting sight for those who enjoy observing the planet through binoculars or small telescopes.
For those who want a sight just after sunset, they can look for Venus and Saturn huddled close together on Friday, 17 January, and Saturday, 18 January.
In addition, there have also been claims that all seven classical planets will line up in late January or early February 2025.
Some sources have indicated that Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will appear together on the same side of the sky.
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Picture: Philippe Donn / Pexels
