“Celestial Serenade: A Rare Opportunity to Witness Nearly All Planets Aligned in the Night Sky!”

Skywatchers are being offered a unique “planet parade” this month, as most planets can be seen in the evening sky simultaneously.

Astrophysicist Dr Rebecca Allen, co-leader of Swinburne University’s space technology and industry center, stated it’s an unusual chance to observe so many planets aligned above the horizon, particularly the outer ones like Neptune.

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are expected to be the most visible, particularly around 21 January, although observers may also catch sight of Neptune and Uranus with binoculars or a high-quality telescope.

“They just happen to all be positioned on the same side of our sun, within similar degrees in our sky, allowing us to view them,” she explained. “That is exceptional.”

The planets wouldn’t actually be moving closer in space, she added; they would merely seem to be so from our perspective.

“In essence, it’s all about viewpoint. All of these planets are vast distances away from us and one another.”

Planets nearer to the sun, like Venus – a terrestrial, Earth-sized body – will shine more brightly and be more detectable, she noted. This planet, often referred to as the “morning star” or “evening star”, progresses through phases similar to the moon and would be fascinating to observe over several weeks.

Venus and Saturn experienced a “conjunction” in January, implying that they would appear closer together in the night sky, she remarked. Observers using a telescope could even glimpse Saturn’s rings, appearing narrow.

Mars and its surface details will be exceptionally distinct, Allen noted. The sun is in opposition, she indicated, meaning “you’re observing Mars, while the sun is positioned behind you.”

Jupiter – the fifth planet, and the largest – would be situated near Orion, a constellation familiar to many Australians as “the saucepan.” With a telescope, she stated, it’s possible to discern the clouds on Jupiter’s surface and some of its moons.

Con Stoitsis, from the Astronomical Society of Victoria, remarked that four of the planets were “like lighthouses” that could effortlessly be spotted around 9:45pm on a clear night with an unobstructed view to the horizon. “You can’t miss them,” he stated.

When facing north, Venus and Saturn would be positioned to the left, he mentioned, with Jupiter on the right, followed by Mars glowing in “brilliant red” a few hours later.

Alongside the planet parade, Stoitsis suggested it’s also an excellent time to look out for satellites, which resemble bright stars that move across the sky.

“It’s quite active up there. If you want to relax under the stars and set up a deck chair, I’d say within an hour, you might catch sight of several satellites.”

Stoitsis, who directs the society’s observations of comets and meteors, reported that enthusiasts are currently observing the comet known as C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), which recently survived a close encounter with the sun.

Comets are akin to cats, he stated: “They possess tails and act according to their whims.” They’re also unpredictable, and this particular comet might become extremely luminous and visible around 18 January, or it could simply fade away.

Allen stated that the optimal viewing of the planet parade would occur around 21 January as the moon diminishes. She suggested that utilizing a basic sky map can be useful, with many options now available as mobile applications. Local astronomical societies and observatories frequently provide additional information or organize special events.

“We’re incredibly fortunate, all of us on Earth, to witness this alignment occurring among some of the most renowned and easily recognizable summer constellations … Orion, Gemini, and Taurus,” she remarked.

“It’s the school holidays. Take the kids outside. It’s a perfect time to use binoculars and observe nearly all of the planets this month.”