this month, four planets are visible to the naked eye, with five appearing briefly next month. while this event is spectacular for stargazers, it’s neither irregular nor particularly rare. contrary to the hype, there’s no extraordinary alignment. so, is this one of the best astronomy sights of 2025? let’s dive in.
what is a ‘planet parade’?
the term "planet parade" is commonly used to describe a scenario where multiple planets are visible in the night sky. however, some articles misleadingly include uranus and neptune in these events, even though they’re not visible without a telescope.
this year, the phrase is being used because jupiter shines brightly, while venus and mars are reaching peak visibility after sunset. saturn lingers in view, and mercury occasionally makes an appearance, allowing four or five planets to be seen unaided.
why is it not an alignment?
planets are always aligned along the solar system's plane, known as the ecliptic. this isn’t a chaotic arrangement—planets orbit in consistent, near-circular paths. the number of planets visible at any given time depends on their positions relative to earth.
for instance, inner planets like venus and mercury are often lost in the sun’s glare, while others are farther from the sun and visible at night.
why it’s not a ‘once in 396 billion years’ event
the claim of a “once in 396 billion years” event stems from a misunderstanding of jean meeus’s theoretical work in mathematical astronomy morsels (1997). meeus calculated this timeframe for a scenario where all eight planets align within 1.8 degrees—a condition far from the current “planet parade.” this month’s planets are visible but not closely aligned, making the claim inaccurate.
planetary highlights in january and march
in january, six planets are present: mars, jupiter, venus, saturn, uranus (invisible to the naked eye), and neptune (also invisible). look west shortly after sunset to spot venus and saturn, while jupiter and mars appear in the east. january 21 is ideal for stargazing, with the last quarter moon rising around midnight.
by early march, mercury briefly joins the lineup. on march 8, you can spot mercury between saturn and venus after sunset, accompanied by a crescent moon.
so, while there’s no “once in 396 billion years” event, the night sky offers some fantastic opportunities to witness a celestial show in early 2025!