Mars reaches opposition on 16 January 2025, making it one of the key planets to observe this month.
The Red Planet will be at its best in January 2025 and is a great target to observe through a telescope.
Venus is a beautiful, bright naked-eye object shining brightly in the early evening sky.
It will be joined in the sky by Saturn throughout January 2025.
The two planets will be close together on 10 January, getting closer and closer until they're right next to one another on 18 January.
Here's our complete guide to observing the planets in January 2025, including where and when to see each one and key dates for your calendar.
For more info, read our month-by-month guide to visible planets.
Mercury
- Best time to see: 1 January, from 40 minutes before sunrise
- Altitude: 4° (very low)
- Location: Ophiuchus
- Direction: Southeast
Morning planet that’s best at the start of January low in the dawn twilight. Shining at mag. –0.3, Mercury is visible 40 minutes before sunrise, but not optimally. It’s lost from view around 9 January as it heads back towards the Sun.
Venus
- Best time to see: 10 January, 1 hour after sunset
- Altitude: 24°
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: South-southwest
Brilliant evening planet, best from 1 hour after sunset at the start of the month. Greatest eastern elongation on 10 January, separated from the Sun by 47.2° and setting 4.5 hours after sunset. On the evening of 3 January, a 16%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits 2° south of Venus.
On 18 January, mag. –4.4 Venus sits 2.2° north-northwest of mag. +0.8 Saturn. After greatest eastern elongation, it changes quite rapidly through the eyepiece. On 12 January, its phase is 50%, but by 31 January this decreases to 38%, its apparent diameter increasing from 25 arcseconds to 31 arcseconds.
Mars
- Best time to see: 12 January, 00:48 UT
- Altitude: 62°
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: South
- Features: Polar caps, surface markings, weather
- Recommended equipment: 75mm scope or larger
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 1 January, 22:10 UT
- Altitude: 59°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: South
A resplendent evening object shining at mag. –2.6. It passed opposition at the start of last month and is best at the start of January, reaching 59° when due south under darkness. An 89%-lit waxing gibbous Moon sits 5° north of Jupiter on 10 January.
By the end of the month, the planet shrinks to appear 43 arcseconds across, 3 arcseconds smaller than on 1 January.
Saturn
- Best time to see: 1 January, 17:30 UT
- Altitude: 27°
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: South-southwest
Unable to reach peak altitude under darkness, Saturn remains well placed for observation at the start of January. Occulted by a 25%-lit waxing crescent Moon on 4 January. On 18 January, shining at mag. +0.8, Saturn sits 2.2° south-southeast of mag. –4.4 Venus in deep twilight.
Uranus
- Best time to see: 1 January, 20:45 UT
- Altitude: 55°
- Location: Aries
- Direction: South
Relatively near Jupiter and well placed. Shining at mag. +5.7, it reaches 55° when due south. Currently in Aries, virtually on the border with Taurus.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 1 January, 18:10 UT
- Altitude: 34°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South-southwest
Mag. +7.9 evening planet in Pisces. Best seen at the start of January, it loses altitude as darkness falls at the end of the month. Neptune is occulted by a 34%-lit crescent Moon at 13:54–14:54 UT on 5 January but won’t be visible in daylight. At 19:00 UT on 31 January, Neptune is separated from Venus by 3.2°.
Share your planetary images and experiences with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
This guide appeared in the January 2025 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine
