A Winter's Night Sky Spectacle: Four Planets on Display

This winter, the night sky is putting on a dazzling show. As darkness falls, you'll be able to spot not one, not two, but four planets with the naked eye! Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are lining up for a stunning celestial display. This isn't something that happens every year, so it's worth stepping outside to take a look. Venus and Saturn are currently appearing close together, known as a conjunction. They'll be visible in the southwest sky for about three hours after sunset. Mars, on the other hand, is shining extra bright because it's at opposition with the Sun. This means the Sun, Earth, and Mars are in a straight line, with Earth in the middle. This makes Mars look bigger and brighter than usual. Jupiter will be the highlight of the night, appearing directly overhead. Meanwhile, Mars will make its entrance from the east. If you've got binoculars or a telescope, you might even spot Neptune and Uranus, although they're a bit harder to see. Unfortunately, Mercury is playing hide and seek as a morning star, making it difficult to catch a glimpse. These planetary gatherings aren't super rare, but they're not an everyday occurrence either. It's more like a cosmic party where the planets are always following the same dance floor route, called the ecliptic.