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observing the planets It’s one of the most impressive ways to witness the magic of the night sky, and there’s no better way to see it than in a planetary alignment. This is where several planets line up next to each other.
On January 21, six planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) will be visible simultaneously in the sky, and their alignment will be easily visible from almost everywhere in the world. But if you miss your chance to watch the night sky on January 21, don’t worry: there’s plenty of time to catch this planetary parade.
The alignment will be visible for about a month, until mid-to-late February. However, the positions of the planets will change during this time, so their positions on January 21 will not be the same as at the end of February.
While conjunctions of two planets are somewhat common, alignments of five or more are quite rare. This year there will be two more planetary alignments with five or more planets, but after that, the next alignment of five or more planets won’t happen until 2040.
Here you will find everything you need to know to see this planetary alignment.
How to watch
For the best view, wait 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. You’ll want to view this planetary alignment after the sun has set and from a location away from artificial light, which makes it difficult to see objects in the night sky.
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus will appear forming an arc from east to west. You can spot four of these planets with the naked eye; However, two of them (Uranus and Neptune) require a good pair of high-powered binoculars or a garden telescope. Below details exactly where in the night sky to look for each planet on the 21st, but if you’re not sure how to find them, don’t worry: apps like stellarium It can help you easily locate planets and other celestial objects.
When to look
The best time to view the planets is shortly after sunset, because three of them (Venus, Saturn, and Neptune) set between approximately 9 and 10:30 p.m. local time. Please note that the exact time each planet rises and sets will vary slightly depending on your location on Earth; you can use a website like Time and date to find the exact times for where you are.
If possible, it’s best to start skywatching earlier in the evening, because Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will move further toward the horizon before they set, making them increasingly difficult to see as the night progresses.
Mars
On January 21, Mars will be in the east, directly below the constellation Gemini. Mars has just reached opposition, meaning Earth is directly between it and the Sun, so the Red Planet will appear at its largest and brightest and will be visible throughout the night.
Mars is easily visible to the naked eye. But if you use a telescope in your garden, you can see its north polar ice cap, which extends for more than 600 milesand the Vallis Marineristhe largest canyon in the solar system, which runs along the equator of Mars and is more than 1,800 miles long.
Jupiter
Jupiter will be west of Mars, in the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter is easily visible to the naked eye. However, a pair of high-powered binoculars will allow you to see Jupiter’s moons and possibly its cloud bands.
A telescope in your backyard will allow you to see the giant planet in greater detail. Look for Jupiter’s cloud bands and its impressive Red Spot, an anticyclone that over 10,000 miles wide—1.3 times the width of the Earth. The Red Spot is not always visible from Earth, because Jupiter’s days last about 10 hours.meaning the storm spends a considerable portion of its time facing away from Earth on many nights. you can use this Sky & Telescope calculator to see when it might be visible from your location.
Jupiter will be visible for most of the night: it rises mid- to late afternoon on January 21 and sets between 3 and 5 a.m. on January 22, depending on your exact location.
Uranus
On the 21st, Uranus will be about 50 degrees west of Jupiter and slightly below it. Uranus will seem to be close the Pleiadesa bright star cluster visible to the naked eye.
You will need a pair of high-powered binoculars or a garden telescope to view Uranus, as it is too dark to easily see with the naked eye. Through such equipment, Uranus looks like a star with a pale blue tint. Although Uranus has rings, they are too faint to see, even with observing equipment. However, if you have a powerful telescope in your backyard, you might be able to see its moons.