Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The year 2024 was full of significant celestial events, including a complete solar eclipse, several consecutive supermoons, meteor showers and multiple sightings of Aurora Borealis across half of the United States. A new year has officially begun, and with it begins a lineup of some additional interesting and notable celestial events that will be visible to the naked human eye to some degree or another throughout the year. While 2025 is shaping up to be a pretty active, astronomically speaking, there are a few exciting events North Florida residents can keep an eye out for this January.
One of the most significant celestial events is called a “planetary parade,” and it occurs when multiple planets in our solar system are visible in the night sky at the same time. This January, six of our planets will be participating in the planetary parade: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. They will begin to appear in the sky in the days leading up to Jan. 21, and in the four weeks following, with peak viewing opportunity starting on the 21st. Experts say that Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, but to view Neptune and Uranus, viewers will need assistance from a telescope or similar device.
Viewing these planets will be a little more complicated than simply looking up at the night-time sky, as each of the planets can be expected to be easiest to view in certain areas of the sky at certain times. The best time to try and catch a glimpse of Earth's neighbors is just after sunset, along the horizon. Hopeful onlookers should look for Mars, Jupiter and Uranus in the southeastern sky, while Neptune, Venus and Saturn will be present in the southwestern sky. The best viewing time for all of the planets is around 8:30 p.m., with Neptune, Venus and Saturn being the first to fall below the horizon by 11:30 p.m. Following that, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will be visible well into the morning hours, with Mars being the final to set, just before sunrise.
This six-planet parade will last until the end of February, when Mercury will join, making it a seven-planet parade for just a few days. This is special, as it will include all of the planets in our solar system, with the exception of Earth (and Pluto, if you're a loyalist!). Experts say it will be a challenge to see all seven planets during this time, as Saturn, Mercury and Neptune will all be fairly close to the sun at sunset. In the weeks following Mercury's attendance, each of the planets will make their way closer to the proximity of the sun, which will steadily decrease visibility. Be sure to wear UV protection when viewing the sky at sunset, and never point your telescope directly at the sun.
According to cnet.com, all locations in the US, Canada and Mexico should be able to see this planetary parade, due to the limited movement of the planets and the length at which they will be in position. They suggest the best time to view the parade will be during the week of Jan. 29, as there will be a new moon, which will reduce light in the sky during the night, and will make the planets easier to spot.
For those who plan on using a telescope to view the more distant planets, astronomers recommend using a telescope that has at least an eight-inch aperture at 50 times magnification to see Uranus and its rings, and 150 times magnification to see Neptune and its rings. It has also been mentioned that Saturn will be beautifully on display at 25 magnification for those who wish to view it with more than just their naked eye.
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