Venus and Saturn will be in conjunction this weekend, appearing side by side in the night sky during January's post-sunset "planet parade."

I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere).

Both Venus and Saturn will be in the Aquarius constellation, the water bearer, during their close approach. To help spot it, viewers should look towards the south in the evening sky, using the bright star Fomalhaut in the nearby Piscis Austrinus constellation as a guide to locate Aquarius.

Do the periods of comets decrease because they lose mass every time they get near the Sun? Robert BaileyConover, Wisconsin Great question! Assuming you're referring specifically to the orbital period - in other words,

Skies over South Carolina kick off 2025 with a planet parade, ancient comet and the muse of "Beyond Antares," a 23rd-century love song from "Star Trek" fame.

On Monday night you may have a chance to witness the moon obscuring the Red Planet at its brightest, as well as a comet’s closest approach to the sun.

Astronomer Dean Regas gives us the lowdown on the best things to look out for this winter, from a “planet parade” to the ATLAS comet.

Plus: Saturn’s moon Iapetus is visible, our Moon passes the bright star Spica, and Mars skims south of Pollux in Gemini in the sky this week.

NASA and famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin say stargazers have the best chance of catching a glimpse of Saturn and Venus in alignment starting Saturday. The planets have been shuffling toward each other in the sky and will appear closest this weekend, appearing only inches apart to the human eye.

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible to the naked eye this month and for part of February. Uranus and Neptune can be spotted with binoculars and telescopes.

Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars will appear to line up and be bright enough to see without a telescope or binoculars — and with them, you can see Uranus and Neptune, too.

Early 2025 is a good time for skygazing and spotting up to seven planets in the night sky – if you have a little help.