POLOKWANE – Throughout January, a rare planetary alignment will become visible in the night sky, promising a rare celestial delight.

Skywatchers across the southern hemisphere will witness Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars forming a stunning lineup in the twilight sky, accompanied by the bright stars Altair and Fomalhaut.

The alignment is best viewed from locations with minimal light pollution, shortly after sunset.

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) advises enthusiasts to find a vantage point with a clear view of the western horizon and says telescopes won’t be essential as the planets are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.

Astronomers highlight that Venus will shine prominently as the “Evening Star,” with Mercury lower on the horizon and Saturn located just above Venus.

However, Earthsky.org says posts circulating on social media claiming that seven planets will be visible during this alignment on January 25 are incorrect.

A video posed on their Youtube page debunks these assertions, explaining that while four planets will be visible, the other planets in the solar system are either too faint or positioned outside the line of sight from Earth.

“The planets won’t be lined up behind each other. This is technically possible but it will only happen every 396 billion years. Our sun is only four and a half billion years old and it’ll be dead in another five billion years so we’ll almost certainly never see this happen and it’s definitely not going to happen on January 25,” the video explains.

Earthsky goes on to label the alignment as one of the best planetary displays seen in years.

It also marks one of January’s astronomical highlights.

Earlier this month, SAAO also celebrated the Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaked around January 4.

Known for its bright meteors, the shower dazzled observers despite a partially illuminated moon.

The SAAO encourages South Africans to seize the opportunity to observe the alignment.

For those new to stargazing, they recommend using apps or star maps to locate the planets and stars.

South Africa’s southern skies are renowned for their clarity and offer unparalleled opportunities for observing the heavens.

“South Africa’s unique position in the southern hemisphere gives us access to some of the most spectacular views of the Milky Way and beyond,” Dr. Molefe explained.

“It’s an opportunity to appreciate the universe’s beauty and to reflect on our place within it.”

The planetary alignment is expected to last about 30 minutes after sunset, offering just enough time to take in the sight.