Sky parade of giants: four planets visible at the same time!

Sky parade of giants: four planets visible at the same time!

A fascinating star parade is planned for January 21, 2025, when four planets will be visible in the night sky at the same time. Attention, young and old astronomy fans: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars then present themselves in an impressive formation along the ecliptic. Michael Feuchtinger, director of the Vienna Planetarium, explains that this constellation only occurs every few years due to the special celestial mechanics. The planets are visible to the naked eye, making this opportunity all the more unique. If you look towards the sky, you can first see Venus in the southwest, followed by Saturn, Jupiter and finally the reddish Mars, which will show off its colors especially after dark Today.at reported.

The visibility of the planets

This planetary parade extends over a period of time in which residents benefit from light pollution outside of the city's built-up areas. While the high-rise buildings do not hinder, the less bright Saturn can set. Optimal conditions would be outside under a clear sky, where the planets are easier to see than the numerous stars because they are less prone to twinkling. Common tips from experts recommend using a smartphone app like Google Sky Map to help you find your way around the night sky as a novice. Feuchtinger encourages you to look at the entire ecliptic, where not only the four will be visible. Uranus and Neptune could also be observed, but only through telescopes, like Wikipedia explained.

The solar system in which the Earth is located consists of the sun, eight planets - including Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars - as well as numerous moons, dwarf planets and asteroids. The Sun is the central star, accounting for 99.86% of the system's total mass. The planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun and were formed by the accretion of dust and gas from the solar nebula cloud. The upcoming planetary spectacle therefore not only offers an aesthetic experience, but is also an opportunity to learn more about our cosmic neighborhood and the mechanisms behind the movements and visibility of celestial objects.