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

Alignments of five or more planets are rare—there will be two more featuring five or more planets this year, but after that the next won’t happen until 2040.

Venus and Saturn will appear extraordinarily close together in the night sky overnight on Jan. 17 during a celestial event known as a conjunction.

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

So I grabbed my camera, ran outside, and looked up just as Mars was supposed to emerge from the Moon's curved horizon. Seen with the naked eye, the Moon's brightness far outshined Mars, casting soft shadows on a cold winter evening in East Texas.

A six-planetary alignment will occur around Jan. 21. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear in one ecliptic plane in the southern and eastern sky after sunset; however, only Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. You will need a telescope to see Uranus and Neptune.

Although Jupiter and Mars have been dominating the eastern sky, there's more here to view than just planets. Already 50° high an hour after sunset, the bright, magnitude 0.1 star Capella stands high above Mars and to Jupiter's upper left.

Six planets will all be visible at once in the night sky this month, lined up across the sky—but one is set to disappear from view.

In January, stargazers will be able to see four bright planets, the close dance of Venus and Saturn, Mars at opposition, and celestial views.

Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn can be spotted without special equipment, with Uranus and Neptune requiring a telescope.

A six-planetary alignment will occur around Jan. 21. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear in one ecliptic plane in the southern and eastern sky after sunset; however, only Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. You will need a telescope to see Uranus and Neptune.