“Celestial Showcase: January’s Night Sky to Feature 6 Planets, 4 Visible Without a Telescope!”

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – NASA has announced that January promises to be a thrilling month for skywatchers, with six planets becoming visible in the night sky, four of which are observable without optical aid.

A recent update from NASA disclosed that January is filled with numerous intriguing celestial occurrences, starting on Jan. 3 with the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower.

If you happened to miss the shower, there’s no reason to worry, as that was merely the kickoff of January’s astronomical events.

On Jan. 13, the moon will seem to transit in front of Mars, though the timing will differ by region, hence the agency suggested that interested observers check skywatching applications and websites to find out when they can see the event.

On Jan. 17 and 18, Venus and Saturn will “become merely a couple of finger widths apart in the sky,” according to NASA.

Fortunately, the most thrilling astronomical occurrence will take place throughout the month: four planets will be visible to the naked eye in the early hours of darkness each night. More specifically, Venus and Saturn will be seen in the southwest, Jupiter directly overhead, and Mars in the east. Furthermore, those equipped with a telescope will also be able to view Uranus and Neptune.

NASA’s article noted that while planets are consistently aligned in a lengthy line, witnessing such a multitude of bright planets simultaneously is undoubtedly a remarkable occasion.