Catch the Celestial Show: Planets Align in January!

Get ready to watch a celestial spectacle! This January, you can spot five planets in the night sky with your naked eye, and even catch a glimpse of two more with a telescope. Imagine seeing Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars all at once! Plus, Uranus and Neptune are part of the squad too, but you'll need a telescope to see them. You might be thinking, "Why don't we see these planets lined up all the time? " Well, it's because they all orbit the sun in a flat plane, called the ecliptic. So, when they're on the same side of the sun, they appear in a line from our view on Earth. Seeing four or more planets together is pretty rare, so this is a special treat! Want to know how to spot them? Start by looking west as the sun sets. Venus will be the brightest, and golden Saturn will be nearby. As the month goes on, Saturn will move lower while Venus climbs higher. Jupiter will be bright and high up, and Mars will rise in the east, glowing reddish. But that's not all! Earlier this month, we saw the Quadrantid meteor shower peak, and the moon hid Mars briefly on the 13th. Plus, Venus and Saturn got super close on the 17th and 18th. It's been a busy month for skywatchers! So, grab your telescope if you have one, and head out after dark. The show is waiting for you!