CALIFORNIA — If you love to look at the night sky, chances are you’ve noticed the brighter-than-usual scattering of planets. Experts call this the “Parade of Planets,” when the Earth’s four nearest neighbors— Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars—are visible with the naked eye just after sunset into early February.
The last week of January is ideal for stargazing, with the waning moon heading to New Moon on Jan. 29, making for a truly dark night sky.
Two other planets, Neptune and Uranus, can also be seen during the planetary parade with the help of a telescope, according to NASA’s JPL spokesperson Preston Dyches.
Though the planetary spectacle was at its peak this week, sparkling in the Santa Ana low-humidity sky, you can still catch sight of the brightest planets in the early evening into February, from just after sunset until around 9 p.m.
Looking to the west-southwest, you’ll see Venus and Saturn at or just above the horizon line after sunset, while Neptune and Uranus will be visible only by telescope, Dyches said. Mars, appearing in a line to the eastern sky, will remain its brightest in the past two years, easily identifiable by its red appearance.
Venus and Saturn have been “super close” since Tuesday and will go their separate ways this weekend. “Remember, they’re really hundreds of millions of miles apart in space, so when you observe them, you’re staring clear across the solar system!” Dyches said.
Mars reaches full “opposition” this month, when the planet lies directly on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, forming a straight line.
“Opposition is when the planet is closest to Earth, making it appear at its biggest and brightest,” he said. “For Mars, oppositions happen about every two years. This one won’t be the most spectacular ever, but it’s still closer than average and provides a great opportunity to observe the nearby planet.”
Currently, NASA has five missions operating around the Red Planet.
Early risers can catch sight of Mars, the lone planet visible in the sky, on January mornings. Look for it in the west, shortly before sunrise, Dyches said.
“All month after dark, you’ll find Venus and Saturn in the southwest for the first couple of hours, while Jupiter shines brightly high overhead, and Mars rises in the east,” Dyches said. “Uranus and Neptune are there, too, technically, but they don’t appear as ‘bright planets,’ only visible by telescope.
The last planetary parade was in May 2024, so this viewing opportunity isn’t considered “super rare. ” However, as it doesn’t happen yearly, experts say it’s worth checking out.
The casual star observer may consider downloading a stargazing app to help you understand what you see. According to Space.com, apps like Night Sky II, NASA, and Star Walk 2, can help beginners learn more about the stars.
Also, consider visiting the Los Angeles area Griffith Observatory or finding a local “star party” group, such as the Temecula Valley Astronomers, holding a special Piazza Starlight Party, weather permitting, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Europa Village Winery on Jan. 31, according to the group.
