Venus and Saturn will engage in a celestial race this month, with Saturn overtaking Venus. On January 18, Venus and Saturn will form a great conjunction, offering an extraordinary sight in the night sky. Mars will shine brightly in the east, while Jupiter will dominate overhead, creating a stunning planetary alignment.
Skywatchers across India, including Odisha, can observe this rare event with the naked eye, provided the skies remain clear of clouds. Throughout January, four planets—Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter—will be visible after sunset. As the night progresses, these planets will gradually shift westward and set one after the other.
Venus and Saturn will set first at 8:30 PM. Their conjunction on January 18 will be the highlight, as Venus appears very close to Saturn for about two hours. Saturn will then descend and move away from Venus.
Such celestial alignments, where multiple planets appear together in the sky, are known as a Planet Parade. This phenomenon occurs annually when four planets align. Five planets align once every 19 years, while all eight planets appear together roughly every 170 years.