Planets Parade & Stargazing on 25th Jan
January 25 @ 5:30 pm – January 26 @ 9:45 pm
On January 25th, will seven planets appear in a straight line in the sky?
Answer:
No, on January 25, 2025, all the planets in the solar system will not align perfectly in a straight line. However, during January 2025, six planets—Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune—will appear along a circular pathway near the ecliptic line (the Sun’s apparent path). Of these, only Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye as bright points, and all six can be viewed clearly through a telescope.
It’s important to note:
This type of planetary alignment is a common astronomical phenomenon because all planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane.
In mid-January, Venus and Saturn will appear very close to each other, with their closest conjunction visible on January 17 and 18.
Additionally, on January 16, Mars will be in opposition, making it appear brighter and larger in the night sky.
It’s worth remembering that while planets may seem aligned from Earth’s perspective, they are not truly in a straight line in space. The term “planetary alignment” refers to their appearance in the sky from Earth, not their actual spatial positions in the solar system.
Should you go out to see this planetary alignment on January 25?
Absolutely! It’s a great opportunity to view four planets at once, and with the Moon absent from the sky, the stars will also appear more vivid and beautiful. For astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers, January 25 is a date not to be missed.
Nisargshala is organizing a stargazing camp on January 25, featuring expert guidance and the use of large telescopes.
For more information and registration, please visit the Nisargshala website.