Hyderabad’s January skies are offering an exciting opportunity for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts to spot four planets—Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. Over the next few days, if the weather is clear and the sky is dark, you can see these planets with the naked eye.
According to N. Sree Raghunandan Kumar, founder president of the Planetary Society of India (PSI), spotting these planets is quite simple and doesn’t require a telescope. He shared some helpful tips for identifying them.
In the evening, look west before 8:30 pm to find Venus. It will appear as a bright, steady star-like object that doesn’t twinkle. Venus will set around 8:30 pm, so make sure to catch it early. Just next to Venus, you can spot Saturn. It looks like a dim, yellowish-white star.
On the opposite side, in the eastern skies, Jupiter can be seen. It also looks like a non-twinkling star and is fairly easy to spot. Near the horizon, you’ll find Mars, which has a distinct orange-red glow.
As the night progresses, different planets become easier to see. Around 10 pm, Jupiter will move higher and appear directly overhead. By midnight, Mars will dominate the sky, and just before sunrise, you can spot Mars again, this time in the western sky.
So, grab a pair of binoculars if you’d like a closer look, but remember, these planets are visible with the naked eye. Happy stargazing!
