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A new year has arrived, and there’s no finer way to commence it than with a stunning exhibition in the nighttime sky.
The year 2025 is set to usher in its own array of breathtaking celestial occurrences, featuring the Jan. 13 wolf moon — named for the likelihood of hearing wolves howling during this period — and an enchanting planetary alignment, referred to as a “parade of planets,” starting this month, where all seven planets aside from Earth will seem to align across the night sky.
Interested in getting a view? Here’s everything you need to know about witnessing this unmissable astronomical event.
What is a ‘parade of planets’?
A planetary parade is a common term that indicates four or more planets are aligned in the night sky at once. Although it’s not a formal astronomical term, the space agency has occasionally referred to it as a “parade of planets.”
The phrase can be misleading since the planets do not actually align in a perfect line in the three-dimensional solar system as they might appear in illustrations; instead, it’s our viewpoint from Earth that makes it seem so. While the alignment of planets is not particularly extraordinary, seeing four or five bright planets simultaneously doesn’t occur every year, as noted by the space agency.
Which planets can I identify in the night sky during January and February?
Although it’s not unusual to observe planets, this period will allow you to check off sightings of multiple planets in a single night’s observation.
During the month of January, you can readily see Venus and Saturn in the southwest for the initial few hours following sunset, with Jupiter shining brightly overhead, and Mars to the east. Uranus and Neptune are also present, but they are too dim to be perceived by the naked eye and require telescopic assistance. They will also remain visible through February.
When will the ‘parade of planets’ occur?
Get ready for the “planet parade!”
The event is anticipated to start after sunset on Friday, as per the Farmers’ Almanac. Look towards the south and then scan the sky from left to right (or east to west) to identify each planet, as illustrated in the Almanac’s graphic.
An alignment of six planets — Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, and Uranus — traveling through the sky together will reach its height on Jan. 21. This stunning view will be most visible through Feb. 21.
Some exciting occurrences leading up to the Jan. 21 event:
- On Jan. 10, the moon will come very close to Jupiter.
- On Jan. 13, the nearly full moon will occult, or completely obscure Mars, between 8:44 p.m. and shortly after midnight on Jan. 14. For more information on timing, see In-the-Sky.org. Mars will appear at its largest and brightest when the red planet rises in the east at dusk and sets in the west at dawn.
- On Jan. 18, Venus and Saturn will appear to be quite near each other just after sunset, progressively coming closer in the days leading up to the significant night, before they drift apart.
A ‘parade’ involving seven planets
Want even more? Mercury will briefly partake in the parade on Jan. 25 for a few days — creating a planetary parade of all seven planets in our solar system excluding Earth. It will be challenging to spot, as it is the smallest planet and the closest to the sun, resulting in it seldom escaping the sun’s brightness, making it invisible to the naked eye.
To see all seven, you’ll need to time it perfectly: Saturn, Mercury, and Neptune.will be close to the sun at dusk, making them harder to observe, yet they’ll still be present.
As March approaches, Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune will have moved too close to the sun to be visible, with Venus trailing not far behind.
Where will I find the best sighting of the planets?
Avoid urban illumination and make your way to an open space or hill. If the atmosphere is clear, the majority of the planets will be observable by the unaided eye, although as previously mentioned, Neptune and Uranus are exceptions. This might be the perfect moment to purchase that telescope! Experts in astronomy suggest a telescope with a minimum of 8-inch aperture at 50 times magnification to observe Uranus and its rings, and 150 times magnification to view Neptune. Saturn and its stunning rings can be detected at 25 times magnification, according to astronomers.
It’s also wise to download a stargazing application to assist you in exploring the night sky. The Stellarium website is an excellent starting point.
Here are some top choices, ranging from beginner stargazers to experienced astronomers, according to Space.com. The Stellarium website is a great place to begin, where you can also acquire their mobile application, as well as looking up optimal times and dates to observe the planets on a site such as timeanddate.com.
How does the Reno-Tahoe weather forecast appear for the ‘parade of planets’?
The National Weather Service’s Reno division predicts predominantly clear conditions for the upcoming five nights, but does not provide forecasts beyond that timeframe.
Weather.com’s forecasts extend through the event’s peak on Jan. 21; as of Jan. 10, the outlook for Jan. 21 indicates predominantly clear skies prior to a potential midweek storm.
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