Planet Parade of Solar System: This rare celestial event will occur on January 21, just after sunset

Have you ever imagined witnessing a celestial parade involving the planets of our solar system! This evening, just after sunset, a rare planetary alignment will take place, showcasing the incredible sight of seven planets forming a unique alignment. Such planetary parades are exceptionally rare, with claims suggesting that they occur once in 396 billion years. However, experts challenge this timeframe.

Here’s everything you need to know about the phenomenon, its visibility, and how to experience it.

In our solar system, planets revolve around the Sun in their individual orbits. When several planets temporarily appear to gather on one side of the Sun and align in a straight or nearly straight line as viewed from Earth, this phenomenon is referred to as a planet parade or planetary alignment.

To simplify, the solar system operates in an orderly manner, resembling an "omelet" with planets moving in circular orbits. Each planet takes a different amount of time to complete its orbit due to varying distances from the Sun. When their positions align in a way that forms a line or near-line as seen from Earth, we experience a planetary parade.

These alignments may include multiple visible planets such as Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, while distant planets like Uranus and Neptune require telescopes to observe. Events like these are rare because the orbits and relative positions of planets seldom align in such an orderly fashion.

When and what to expect from current parade?

According to the American space research platform StarWalk, this rare celestial event will occur on January 21, just after sunset. Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, and Uranus will align in a unique pattern. Although the alignment won't form a perfectly straight line due to slight differences in their orbital planes, it will appear strikingly close.

Venus and Saturn will be visible in the western sky.

Jupiter and Mars will dominate the eastern horizon.

Uranus and Neptune, being much farther from Earth, will require a telescope for viewing.

The best time to witness this event is around 45 minutes after sunset, with the alignment visible until late evening. On January 25, another alignment will take place, while on February 20, the alignment will include Mercury, making it a parade of all seven planets visible from Earth (excluding Earth itself). However, at that time, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune will be challenging to observe due to their proximity to the Sun.

Can planet parade be seen in India?

Yes, this celestial event will be visible in India! According to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the parade can be observed between January 21 and February 13, with the number of visible planets varying during this period.

Experts recommend watching on January 21 around 7.30 pm, when the alignment will be most vivid. This phenomenon can be observed from rooftops, tall buildings, or any elevated, unobstructed location with minimal light pollution.

In specific locations, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will be visible until around 11.30 pm, while Jupiter, Uranus, and Mars will remain visible late into the night. Mars, however, will disappear just before sunrise.

For accurate planetary directions, apps like StarWalk, Stellarium, and Sky Portal can help. Using a telescope, one can even spot Jupiter's four largest moons. The planets will appear in the southwestern sky during this event.

How to view parade without telescopes?

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can all be seen with the naked eye under clear, dark skies.

Venus will shine the brightest, resembling a dazzling point of light.

Mars will appear as a small, reddish dot in the night sky.

Jupiter will look like a bright white star, while Saturn may seem faint and hazy.

Although Uranus and Neptune are part of the alignment, their distance from Earth makes them visible only through telescopes. Weather conditions, low cloud cover, and reduced air pollution are key factors for optimal visibility. Unlike stars, planets do not twinkle but shine with a steady glow, making them distinguishable.

Is this parade harmful to Earth?

Planetary alignments like this one pose no harm to Earth or the solar system. Experts emphasise that the event is purely visual and does not influence planetary orbits. While the gravitational forces between planets shift slightly, the distances between them (spanning billions of kilometers) ensure no impact on their stable orbits.

The gravitational forces from this alignment are far too weak to cause any significant changes, even in Earth’s systems. As a result, there is no risk of cosmic disruptions or natural calamities due to this parade.

How long will this parade last?

The current planetary parade will continue until March 8, with periodic changes in the alignment. On this date, the parade will feature Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, and Mercury, alongside a bright half-moon. The event will conclude when the planets resume their normal positions along their orbital paths.

Planetary alignments are temporary phenomena that occur due to the varying speeds and orbits of planets. Once the alignment breaks, the planets continue their independent revolutions around the Sun.

How rare Is this event?

The claim that this planetary alignment occurs once in 396 billion years is inaccurate. The universe itself is only 13.8 billion years old, making such a claim implausible.

In fact, planetary alignments, while rare, occur more frequently. The last notable alignment took place on August 28, 2024, when Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn formed a near-linear pattern visible in parts of Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Earlier, on March 28, 2023, five planets—Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, and Uranus—aligned, and many could witness this without telescopes.

Future planetary parades

Later this year, two additional alignments are expected. Over the next 151 years, four significant planetary alignments are projected to occur.