Exact Time to See Six Planets in a Stunning Night Sky Parade This Week

London: A rare celestial event is happening this week, and it’s pretty exciting! You’ll get to see six planets line up in the sky, which is called a ‘planetary parade.’

Four of these planets—Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus—are bright enough to see without a telescope. If you have one, you can also spot Neptune and Uranus joining the fun. NASA says Venus and Saturn will be visible in the southwest right after sunset, with Jupiter overhead and Mars in the east.

The best time to catch this parade is around 6 PM UK time on January 18. The planets will be about 20 degrees above the horizon, making it a great viewing opportunity. But don’t worry if you can’t make it then; you can also see them from 5 PM to 9 PM that night.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the Royal Observatory suggests January 21 as another good night to see the parade, right after sunset until about 9 PM. The moon will be in its last quarter phase, so the sky will be darker, which is perfect for spotting the planets.

This planetary parade will be visible until the end of February, so you have plenty of chances to catch it.

Mars is also having a big moment this month, reaching opposition on January 16, which means it will look its biggest and brightest in over two years. It was closest to Earth just a few days ago, making it a great time for viewing.

After Mars reaches opposition, keep an eye out for a conjunction between Venus and Saturn on the night of January 17-18, when they’ll be just 2 degrees apart in the sky.

These planetary alignments don’t happen every day, so make sure to mark your calendar and enjoy the show!