January is already off to an historic start, with an arctic blast headed our way, and the possibility of a few inches of snow in the ATL! And now there’s even more reason to look up to the heavens: a rare planetary alignment will take place at the end of January… and you will be able to see it with the naked eye!
What is a planetary alignment?
Planetary alignment is really just like it sounds–it’s three or more planets lining up in their orbits on the same side of the sun. According to Astronomy.com, however, there are some misconceptions:
For example, planetary alignment doesn’t mean the planets are in a perfect straight line, rather, they “appear close together in the sky from our perspective on Earth.”
When is the planetary alignment?
This January, you’ll be able to see the planets align on the 25th, which is a Saturday. It’s the perfect time to go outside and look up at the nighttime sky!
Which planets will be aligned on January 25th?
The four planets that you’ll be able to see in the nighttime sky are Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. (If you could see the whole solar system from a bird’s eye view, you could count Earth in this lineup, but since you can’t… we’ll stick with the four!)
Mercury will not be visible, only because it’s on the other side of the sun in its orbit.
How can I see the planetary alignment in Atlanta?
After sunset, look west, and you’ll be able to identify the planets pretty easily. Venus, being the closest, will be one of the brightest planets in the sky, and will be first in the lineup (from the west). Then, just a little further, you’ll see Saturn, and then Jupiter, which, with its massive size, should be pretty bright as well. Last, you’ll see Mars, the red planet, which will shine slightly red/orange in the sky.
You will not need a telescope or any extra equipment. Of course, areas with less light pollution will make it easier to see… so take a drive out into the areas just outside of the city for the best view!