Are you ready for the big parade, Michigan? Not just the one on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. This one’s taking place right above us.

Six planets are visible in the sky this month, some with the naked eye, in a so-called planet parade. If that’s not enough to keep astronomy fans happy, for a short time next month, seven planets will adorn the sky.

“A parade is a great name for it because they’re all spaced out across the sky,” said Seth Jacobson, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at Michigan State University. “When people hear that they’re aligned, they think that they’re in three-dimensional space like … some sort of incredible eclipse-like alignment.”

This month’s celestial festivities include a conjunction of Venus and Saturn. They will appear closest to each other this Friday and Saturday, NASA says. The two planets, along with Mars and Jupiter, are visible with the naked eye, but a telescope or binoculars will make them even easier to spot. 

Where, when to look

For a couple of hours after dark you may be able to spot Jupiter high overhead, Venus and Saturn to the southwest and Mars in the east, according to NASA.

You will need a high-powered telescope to spot Uranus and Neptune however, and even then, those planets may be difficult to see.

“Uranus and Neptune are … impossible to see with a naked eye, and they’re very difficult to see, even with a backyard telescope or binoculars. In part because they look like stars,” Jacobson said.

Mercury will join the parade at the end of February for a few days but, like Uranus and Neptune, will be very difficult to see.

“Mercury is the tricky one because it’s really close to the sun, so you’re always looking into twilight,” said Shannon Murphy, instructional outreach coordinator for the University of Michigan’s Department of Astronomy. “It’s going to be the one that is tough to see, and it doesn’t show up in the evening until late in the month.”

The best time to see the planet parade will be the week of Jan. 29 during the new moon, according to CNET. The dimmer light will make it easier to see the planets, especially Neptune, Uranus and Saturn.

Optimal viewing hours are after sunset when it’s completely dark but it is dependent on where you are in the world. Tools like Time and Date can be used to help you figure out when to look up.

The best view will be in rural areas away from city lights which could make the planetary parade — or any other astronomical phenomenon in the night sky— harder to see.

Coming attractions

The planetary parade is just the start of a year full of astronomical events to look forward to:

• March 14: A total lunar eclipse will be visible from almost all of North America.
• April 22: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks. During this time, the moon will only be slightly illuminated so it should not impact the visibility of the shower.
• Aug. 12: The Perseid meteor shower will peak during this time. The moon will be almost full which could make it much harder to see.
• Oct. 21: The Orionid meteor shower peaks. This shower will peak during a new moon, making for excellent viewing.

This article is being republished through a syndication agreement with Bridge Michigan. Bridge Michigan is Michigan’s largest nonprofit news service and one of the nation’s leading and largest nonprofit civic news providers. Their coverage is nonpartisan, fact-based, and data-driven. Find them online at https://www.bridgemi.com/.