Celestial Spectacle: A Christmas Night Planetary Dance in 2024

On Christmas Day, numerous individuals will rise anticipating to discover a new telescope or pair of binoculars placed beneath their tree – assuming they have behaved, naturally.

If you are among them, you will face a significant query after the thrill of unwrapping your gift subsides: hmmm… ok… what can I really observe with this tonight?

Fortunately, as night descends at the conclusion of the festive day, a celestial necklace of six planets will stretch across the sky in a broad arc from east to west.

Consult our guide on how to enjoy your inaugural night with a telescope

On Christmas Night 2024, four planets will be clearly visible to the unaided eye – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – and they will be straightforward to locate and view through your brand-new telescope as well.

The planets will be positioned relatively low and near the horizon, so having a clear sight will be quite beneficial.

We will commence our planetary journey at approximately 5:30 PM to catch a glimpse of Venus before it dips below the horizon.

At that hour, the sky should be dark on Christmas Night, but keep in mind that these timings are for the UK.

If you’re observing from more southerly areas in the US, you may need to add an hour or so to our timings.

The essential point is to wait for darkness to set in so that the Sun is well below the horizon when you begin to observe the night sky with your telescope.

Then take your time gazing at the planets in the sequence they appear in our list below. By the time you reach Mars, say around 7 PM, it will have risen above the horizon near Jupiter.

Venus

To commence, head outside at 5:30 PM (or a bit later if observing in the southern USA, for instance), face the south-west, and as long as there aren’t trees or buildings obstructing your view, low in the sky, you’ll observe Venus glowing above the horizon.

To the naked eye, it will appear like a very bright silvery-white star, emitting a steady light.

However, when viewed through a telescope, its brightness will be significantly enhanced, and it will shimmer and oscillate as its light is distorted by the atmosphere.

With sufficient magnification, Venus will resemble a tiny, gibbous Moon through your new telescope.

Discover more with our guide on how to observe Venus

Saturn

Next, look to the upper left of Venus, higher in the sky, where you’ll find Saturn shining like a golden-hued star.

Regrettably, your new telescope won’t give you the Voyager- or Cassini-like perspective of its magnificent rings that you may have been anticipating, as they are currently tilted towards us, but they will still be discernible as a distinct line on either side of the disc.

Discover more with our guide on how to observe Saturn

Neptune

If you are well-versed in the sky, you will be able to utilize your new telescope to spot Neptune next.

This most distant planet will be shining close to Saturn, a short distance to its left.

It will appear as a small blue-green disc at the highest magnification your device allows.

Jupiter

Next, turn your gaze towards the south-east, shining above the beloved constellation of Orion, known for its distinguished belt of three blue-white stars, you’ll see Jupiter shining brightly.

Though it will be dimmer than Venus, Jupiter will actually appear more striking because it’s considerably higher in the sky.

Through binoculars, you may observe up to four of its 95 moons, resembling tiny pin-prick stars close to the planet.

Point your new telescope at Jupiter, and it will be transformed from a mere bright star to a pale yellow-white disc, noticeably flattened at its poles, and traversed by toffee- and coffee-hued belts and clouds.

Discover more with our guide on how to observe Jupiter

Uranus

Once again, if you are familiar with the sky, you will also be able to find Uranus shimmering to the right of Jupiter, positioned to the right of the twinkling Pleiades star cluster.

But if you’re a novice in stargazing and aren’t yet acquainted with the constellations, that may have to wait for another occasion.

Mars

Lastly, glanceover to the left of Orion, and gleaming just above the north-eastern skyline, you will notice what resembles a remarkably-bright orange star.

This is Mars, and its brilliance at this moment is due to its proximity to us.

Mars is nearing opposition in January 2025, making this an excellent moment to commence your exploration of the Red Planet using your telescope, and continue tracking it well into the New Year.

The low position of Mars on Christmas Night 2024 might result in it being obscured by trees or structures to your east, so be ready to relocate to a place with a better view.

However, as the evening advances, Mars will ascend higher and higher, allowing you to enjoy incredible views around midnight.

Through binoculars, Mars’s warm, marmalade hue will appear significantly more vivid, but if you attach a high-powered eyepiece to your new telescope and focus it on Mars, you’ll perceive its smoky disc, with indications of dark features on its surface and perhaps even the bright patch of its north polar ice cap.

Naturally, there will be much more to observe in the sky besides just these celestial bodies.

The winter sky is brimming with twinkling star clusters, delicate nebulae, and spiral galaxies, but you’ll need to familiarize yourself with their locations in the sky before you can locate them.

We have resources available on winter constellations, winter star clusters, winter stargazing, and winter astronomy to assist you.

In the meantime, direct your Christmas gift towards these distant realms and relish the view.

Did you appreciate the planets during Christmas? Share your experience with us by emailing [email protected]