Met Office: Six planets align this week - how to see Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn from UK

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Skywatchers are in luck this week as they have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event.

The alignment of six planets - Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - will be visible from Tuesday (January 21) through mid-February, with peak visibility around January 29, coinciding with the new moon.

This event, often referred to as a "planetary parade," is a result of the planets gathering closely on one side of the Sun, creating a striking visual alignment from Earth's perspective. Such alignments are relatively rare, with the next notable occurrence involving seven planets expected on February 28.

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How can you see it from the UK?

According to the Met Office, the alignment is visible just after sunset, around 4.30pm. For the best experience, find a location with minimal light pollution and an unobstructed view of the horizon.

Skywatchers are in luck this week as they have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event.Skywatchers are in luck this week as they have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event.
Skywatchers are in luck this week as they have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event. | Getty Images/Science Photo Libra

The University of Hertfordshire says Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be easily visible without any optical aids while Uranus and Neptune are fainter and will require binoculars or a telescope to observe.

Met Office forecast

On Tuesday evening, the Met Office forecasts clear spells and scattered showers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of northeast and northwest England, offering moderate to good viewing conditions. Meanwhile, Wales, along with the southeast and southwest of England, is expected to be mostly cloudy with patchy rain, leading to moderate to poor viewing conditions.

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