It is not every day that we get to witness the grand design of the cosmos with our naked eyes. On a special night in 2020, while celebrating Kojagiri Purnima, I had the rare opportunity to spot five planets along with the Moon, without any telescope or binoculars. And if we count Sun who rises daily & the Earth itself under my feet, that makes it seven celestial bodies in one sky. The experience left me spellbound, reconnecting me not only with the sky but also with the timeless wisdom of our ancestors.
On October 30, 2020, many of you must have noticed a bright red star next to the full moon. That “red star” was none other than Mars. If you were busy enjoying the moonlight and a glass of milk that evening, you didn’t miss much. Mars is still visible in the sky even today, without needing to wait until midnight.
And that’s not all. Along with Mars and the Moon, two more planets, Saturn and Jupiter have been clearly visible in recent months. Add Venus, the dazzling “morning star” in the east before sunrise, and you already have four planets. With seeing Sun in the morning & Earth itself under our feet and the Moon glowing above, that night gave me the joy of observing seven celestial bodies in one sky, with nothing but the naked eye.
Watching the Dance of Planets
The Sun and Moon rise and set every day, but the other planets follow their own cycles. Sometimes they appear bright and prominent, sometimes they disappear from sight. Among the nine planets, Rahu and Ketu are shadow planets and cannot be seen even through a telescope. But Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Venus appear just like bright stars, distinguishable only if you observe carefully.
- Around 7:00–7:30 pm, Mars appears as a reddish star in the east.
- Saturn and Jupiter can be spotted close to each other toward the southwest, slightly tilted.
- Venus, the brightest of them all, shines like a diamond in the early morning sky.
Interestingly, Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system, followed by Jupiter. These planets, like the Sun and Moon, also move across the sky from east to west and shift position every night. If you search for them at 10 pm and fail to find them, it’s simply because they’ve already drifted further west.
Mercury, on the other hand, is elusive. That evening it wasn’t visible, but depending on its orbit, it occasionally shows itself near the horizon just after sunset or before sunrise.
My Journey of Observation
Since childhood, I have always been curious about people, nature, and even my own thoughts. That curiosity naturally extended to the skies. Years ago, during a morning walk, I saw a bright star that an elderly gentleman told me was Venus. From then on, I began observing it regularly. For a long time, I thought only Venus was visible with the naked eye, as even in Marathi there are plenty of songs on Venus, who is often celebrated for its beauty.
Later, with the help of a mobile app, I began mapping planets more accurately. One day I was sure I was looking at Venus but the app revealed it was actually Jupiter. Around the same time, I also learned that Saturn and Jupiter were aligned closely in Sagittarius, later moving together into Capricorn. Looking up, I was thrilled to find both planets shining side by side, visible without any telescope.
Ancient Knowledge in Modern Skies
Our ancestors had mapped these patterns thousands of years ago. Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the Sun, which is why the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once in 12 years. Saturn takes about 30 years to complete one orbit, staying in each zodiac for 2.5 years, forming the well-known “Sade Sati.”
For them, astronomy was not an abstract science but a way of life. That is why Navagraha’s are found in our temples, not as superstition but as astronomy expressed through tradition. Today, many dismiss these carvings as unscientific. But if the same knowledge is validated in the West, we call it science. Isn’t that ironic?
Before the lockdown, I would often visit the Shani temple on Saturdays. But when temples closed, I realized Saturn itself was visible from my own home. What our ancestors once observed daily without apps or telescopes, we too can still see if only we look up.
Reconnecting the Broken Link
Astronomy, astrology, and tradition were never meant to be separate. They were ways to help us stay connected with the cosmos and pass down knowledge across generations. Observing planets with the naked eye reminded me of this deep connection.
So, the next time you step out under the night sky, pause for a moment. Look beyond the moon, search for the reddish glow of Mars, the brilliance of Venus, or the silent majesty of Jupiter and Saturn. Put aside the blinkers of superstition or disbelief and simply observe. You may discover not just planets, but also a renewed connection with timeless wisdom. A link our ancestors preserved for us, and one we can pass on to generations to come.
Otherwise, we may end up learning the same truths from the West, waiting until another scientist “discovers” what was already known in India thousands of years ago.
Note: I am not an astronomer. I am simply someone who loves observing the skies with the naked eye, recording what I see, and checking it against existing knowledge.
Blog by Life Coach & Business Mentor Shailesh Tandel
Same blog is available in Marathi, सहा ग्रह आकाशात – दुर्बिणीशिवाय स्पष्ट दर्शन
