Last June, we told you about a Planetary lineup that occurred in the morning sky before sunrise.
Now, the planets are back, but this time they are in the evening sky just after sunset! Go out, look to the south, and you might be able to spot four planets. There are actually six, however, you need a telescope for Uranus and Neptune.
- Off to the southwest is a very bright looking star – that’s Venus
- Nearby is a normal looking star – that’s Saturn. Be quick, Saturn is moving toward conjunction where it will be hidden by the Sun. And, it is approaching its equinox when its rings will be edge on toward us. See The Rings of Saturn.
- Neptune is off to the northeast of Venus.
- High above you and a little to the east is another bright looking star – that’s Jupiter.
- Uranus isn’t too far from Jupiter up near the Pleiades.
- Around half way up in the eastern horizon is a reddish star – that’s Mars.
Star Charts such as Stellarium Web and Apps for smart phones and tables will help you locate these planets.
Here are a few articles with some additional information.
- Dean Regas and Farmers’ Almanac Staff. “Parade Of Planets 2025: See Six Planets Together!” The Farmers Almanac. Updated January 7, 2025.
- Kelly Kizer Whitt and Deborah Byrd. “A planetary alignment on January 25, 2025?” EarthSky. January 23, 2025.
- Jan Wesner Childs. “Look Up For January’s ‘Parade Of Planets’.” The Weather Channel. January 24, 2025.
- “Planetary Alignment in January 2025: How to See It.” Star Walk. January 24, 2025.
- Jamie Carter. “See A ‘Planetary Parade’ Tonight — With Must-See Dates For 2025.” Forbes. December 26, 2024.
For more about astronomy and space, see our webpage All About The Cosmos as well as our FAS Astronomers Blogs.