Because planets always appear in a line, the alignment isn't anything out of the norm. What's less common is seeing so many bright planets at once.

Though the planets are always “aligned,” seeing more than four in the sky is more uncommon. February’s lineup is a chance to glimpse all seven in one sweeping view.

A handful of planets in the solar system are expected to line up in the night sky for a few days in January 2025. Here's when to look up at the stars.

Six planets — Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn — will align in the evening sky just after sunset. Although it can be hard to see them in winter, four of these planets — Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn — can be spotted with the naked eye. For a better view of Neptune and Uranus, you’ll need a telescope.

This month, six planets align in a rare celestial event, with Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars visible to the naked eye, according to NASA’s Preston Dyches. Venus and Saturn will appear closest on January 19-20, while Jupiter shines brightly in the south, and Mars glows reddish in the east.

Mercury joins the night sky to complete a 7-planet alignment just after sunset for the end of February. Saturn leaves our view starting in March. Look up!

An extraordinary astronomical phenomenon will illuminate the sky as stargazers are urged to look up to catch a glimpse of the event.