Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A rare celestial event is set to take place in January 2025, with six planets aligning in the night sky. Skywatchers will have the opportunity to view Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus together for several weeks, starting just before January 21.
While Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn should be visible to the naked eye, a telescope will be needed to catch Neptune and Uranus. Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will be best seen after sunset but will dip below the horizon by midnight.
The best time to observe this parade is around 8:30 p.m. local time, right after sunset, when the planets start to appear. Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus will stay in the sky nearly all night, with Mars setting just before sunrise.
In an extra twist, Mercury is expected to join the lineup later, briefly creating a rare seven-planet alignment. Observing all seven together will be tricky, as Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune will appear low near the Sun and may be harder to spot.
This planetary spectacle will be visible across various regions, including North America, Mexico, Canada, and India, offering a global audience the chance to witness the alignment.
The alignment is expected to last for about a month, but the ideal time to catch it will be from January 21 to February 21, 2025. The week around January 29, when the new moon reduces light pollution, is forecast to offer the clearest views.
By early March, Saturn, Mercury, and Neptune will move too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus will also gradually become less visible, leaving Jupiter, Mars, and Uranus as the last to linger in the night sky.
Unlike past planetary alignments, this event will remain visible for an extended period, offering a spectacular, prolonged viewing experience through late February.