the summary from mefi says it all: [www.metafilter.com]

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, the five planets visible to the naked eye, can all be seen simultaneously after sunset over the next few weeks. Viewing details. The next opportunity will be in 2036.

linking to: [www.space.com]

…and which explains why at 2230h last night I was parked in a countryside layby in Hampshire, looking up at the sky with no streetlights; of which more, later…