Planets align: The celestial show over Australia you can’t miss

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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Six planets will be visible in a rare planetary alignment.

This week, Australians will have the chance to witness a rare celestial event: a planetary parade featuring Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These six planets will align in a dazzling display across the night sky, offering stargazers a spectacular start to 2025.

What is a planetary parade?

A planetary alignment, or a
Six planets will be visible in a rare planetary alignment. (Image: Getty Images/buradaki)

A planetary parade occurs when multiple planets in our solar system align closely along the same region of the sky, appearing near each other from our perspective on Earth. While the planets won’t be in a perfectly straight line, they will appear clustered together, creating a visually striking phenomenon for observers on Earth.

This planetary alignment in 2025 will feature four of the brightest planets visible to the naked eye: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. Uranus and Neptune will also be visible, just not without a pair of binoculars or telescopes and a keen eye to spot them.

How to see it

The planetary parade will reach its peak visibility on the evening of Tuesday 21 January and the following few nights. Weather permitting, the best time to view the alignment is shortly after sunset, as the planets will appear low on the western horizon.

Astronomers recommend heading out at dusk to catch Venus and Saturn before they dip below the horizon. Mars and Jupiter will remain visible for longer, with Jupiter shining especially bright as the largest planet in the solar system.

To see the planetary parade, face west and look for the brightest objects in the sky. Venus will be the easiest to spot near the horizon, glowing with its characteristic bright white light. Above Venus, you’ll find Saturn, while Jupiter sits in the north and Mars in the north-east. Neptune and Uranus sit between Venus and Jupiter, but they are much dimmer, so again, you will need binoculars or a telescope to see them.

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Where to see it

Seen is the Milky Way stitching over the sky in outback Queensland
Outback Queensland is a great spot to watch the planetary alignment. (Image: Getty Images/Ian Hitchcock)

For those in major cities, light pollution may make it harder to see the full display. To get the best view, head to a darker location away from city lights. National parks, beaches or rural areas provide ideal conditions for stargazing.

Warrumbungle National Park in Central West NSW is Australia’s first (and only) Dark Sky Park, so if you’re able to make the trip there, it will be well worth it.

The country also has a number of other dark sky locations such as the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History in Winton, Queensland, the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges of Outback South Australia and Carrickalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia which became Australia’s first International Dark Sky Community in May last year.

Tips for viewing

  1. Timing is key: The planets will appear shortly after sunset, so plan to head outside just as the sky begins to darken.
  2. Bring binoculars: Only four of the six planets are visible to the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view of the other planets too, especially for spotting Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons.
  3. Check the weather: Clear skies are essential for optimal viewing, so check the forecast for your area before heading out.

Events like the planetary parade are a reminder of the beauty and scale of our solar system. These alignments don’t happen often, so they’re worth taking the time to enjoy.

Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or a casual stargazer, this celestial event promises to be a breathtaking sight. So grab a blanket, find a dark spot and let the wonders of the night sky unfold before your eyes.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Farm fresh produce to a trail of lights: the ultimate guide to Mildura

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
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    The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

    From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

    Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura.
    Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

    Taste Mildura’s produce

    It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

    Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

    Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

    Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

    Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

    Hatted dining & Italian history

    Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

    To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

    Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel.
    Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

    Discover a thriving culture scene

    The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

    The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

    Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

    Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

    Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery.
    Find culture around every corner.

    Wonder at ancient landscapes

    The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

    The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

    Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

    Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

    Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity.
    Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

    Meet your home away from home

    On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

    Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

    When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

    A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura.
    Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

    Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .