January 2025 has been a fantastic month for spotting celestial bodies in the night sky. Many of the planets in our solar system have aligned on the same side of the sun, and can be viewed all at once in the night sky. This phenomenon is sometimes called a 'planet parade' or planetary alignment.
There's been much buzz in the media about the planets aligning on 21 January 2025. And while experts are saying this is the best time to view, there's more opportunity to see them.
"The planets have been in largely the same position all month and will be for a week or so after the 21st, Iain Todd, science journalist from BBC Sky at Night Magazine, reveals.
What is the planetary parade 2025?
A planetary parade is when you can see several of the planets in our solar system in the night sky at the same time. Planetary alignment is fairly common, but it usually involves a fewer number of celestial bodies.
Dr Shyam Balaji, researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, explains:
“On 21 January 2025, six planets will align: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn. On 28 February 2025, a seven-planet alignment will occur, including Mercury along with the six planets mentioned above.”
“Planetary alignments occur because the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun within roughly the same plane, known as the ecliptic plane. As they orbit at different speeds and distances from the Sun, there are moments when they appear to line up from Earth's perspective.
"This alignment is a visual phenomenon rather than a physical one, as the planets remain separated by millions or even billions of kilometres in space.”
How rare is a planetary parade?
Dr Shyam Balaji says: “Planetary alignments, where multiple planets appear close together in the sky, occur periodically but are relatively rare. Alignments of six or more planets happen approximately every few decades, depending on the specific orbital positions of the planets.”
Is there any effect felt on Earth, e.g. with the tides or weather?
“There is no significant effect on Earth from planetary alignments regarding tides or weather," reveals Dr Shyam Balaji. "The gravitational influence of the planets on Earth is negligible compared to that of the Moon and the Sun.
"While some speculative theories suggest minor influences on solar activity, these are not supported by robust scientific evidence.”
When is the best time to view the planetary parade from the UK?
Winter months are great for stargazing. Yes, it's chilly, but the cold air means the sky is clearer, and you have more hours to view as the sun sets early.
Iain Todd, from BBC Sky at Night Magazine, reveals: "In the early evening you can see Mars in the east of the night sky and Jupiter in the south-east. Venus and Saturn are close together in the south-west.
"The easiest and brightest planet will be Venus, which looks like a bright star in the evening twilight. Mars was at opposition on 16 January, which is the best time to observe a planet, so it's still looking great in the sky.
"Neptune can be seen with a good pair of binoculars or even a small telescope."
Todd's best advice for viewing is to "get away from light pollution and let your eyes adapt to darkness for 20 minutes or more".
Discover more about the night sky:
- A beginner's guide to stargazing
- Moon names: your month by month guide
- How to see the Northern Lights in Britain
Main image credit: Getty Images