Planetary Parade 2025: Know When And Where To Watch This Rare Celestial Event

Stargazers are in for a spectacular treat this week, as six planets will align in the night sky. Over the next few days, a planetary parade will unfold in the night sky, offering a breathtaking spectacle.

It will give stargazers a rare opportunity to witness up to six planets together — Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The best part is that you don't need a telescope to enjoy this spectacular event.

NASA said that while it’s common to see planets aligned in the sky, what makes this parade special is the rare alignment of six planets at once.

The planetary parade has already started on Jan. 21 and will continue till Jan. 25. During this period, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye just after sunset. However, if you also want to catch Uranus and Neptune, you would need a telescope.

The perfect time to catch this stellar show of planetary parade is 45 minutes after the sun goes down.

Venus and Saturn will shine in the southwest, while Jupiter will dominate the southeast, and Mars will be visible in the east. The planetary display will last about three hours, with Venus and Saturn setting in the west. To get the best experience with a perfect view, head to a dark spot away from city lights and gaze towards the southwestern horizon.

The best way to identify the planets is to find Venus first, which will be the brightest star in the evening sky. Mars will appear like a bright red ball of light because of its colour, while Saturn will appear as a little dot in the sky towards the west. You can view Jupiter similarly but in the southern sky.

Uranus and Neptune will appear as small, bright dots to the naked eye, but due to their distance, they can only be seen with a telescope.