Check out the 6 planets lining up on January 21st

Observing the planets is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to witness the magic of the night sky, and there’s no better way to view them than in an alignment of the planets. This is where many planets line up next to each other.

On January 21, six planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – will be visible in the sky at the same time, and their alignment will be easily visible from almost all parts of the world. If you miss the chance to observe the night sky on January 21, don’t worry: You have plenty of time to see this planetary parade.

The alignment will be visible in about a month, from mid to late February. However, the positions of the planets will change during this time, so their positions on January 21st will not be the same as they were at the end of February.

Although conjunctions of two planets are somewhat common, alignments of five or more are quite rare. There will be two more planetary alignments of five or more planets this year, but the next alignment of five or more planets after that It won’t happen until 2040.

Here’s everything you need to know to see this planetary alignment.

How to Watch

Allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark for the best view. You’ll want to view this planetary alignment after sunset 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 in an arc from east to west. Four of these planets can be seen with the naked eye; but two of them, Uranus and Neptune, require a good pair of high-powered binoculars or a yard telescope. Below is where to look for each planet in the night sky on the 21st, but don’t worry if you’re not sure how to find them – apps like Stellarium It can help you easily find the location of planets and other celestial bodies.

When to watch

The best time to view the planets is shortly after sunset, as three of them—Venus, Saturn, and Neptune—are between about 9-10:30 p.m. local time. Note that the exact time each planet rises and sets will vary slightly depending on your location on Earth; you can use a site like Time and Date to find the exact times for where you are.

If possible, it’s best to start looking at the sky in the evening, as Venus, Saturn and Neptune will move lower towards the horizon before setting, making it increasingly difficult to see as the evening progresses.

Mars

On January 21, Mars will be in the east, directly under the sign of Gemini. Mars has just reached opposition, meaning Earth is directly between it and the sun, so the Red Planet will appear largest and brightest and will be visible all night.

Mars is easily visible to the naked eye. But if you use a backyard telescope, you will be able to see it The arctic ice sheet that stretches over 600 milesand Valli 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 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 backyard telescope will allow you to see the giant planet in more detail. Look for Jupiter’s cloud bands and its amazing Red Spot, an anticyclone 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 are about 10 hoursmeaning that the storm spends a significant amount of time facing away from Earth on many nights. you can use This calculator from Sky & Telescope to see when it might be visible from your location.

Jupiter will be visible for most of the night: rising until late afternoon on January 21 and setting 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 and slightly below Jupiter. Uranus will be visible soon Pleiadesa cluster of bright stars visible to the naked eye.

You’ll need a pair of powerful binoculars or a yard telescope to see Uranus, as it’s not easily visible with the naked eye. Through such equipment, Uranus looks like a pale blue star. Although Uranus has rings, they cannot be seen even with viewing equipment. However, if you have a powerful backyard telescope, you can see its satellites.