A rare planetary alignment will light up the evening sky on February 28, 2026, as six planets appear together after sunset. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune will line up across the sky, offering a striking view for skywatchers around the world. Four of them will be visible without any equipment, making this one of the easiest multi-planet events to observe in years.
The best time to watch the parade is about 30 minutes after local sunset. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune will sit low in the western sky, so a clear horizon is important. Jupiter will shine high in the southeastern sky and remain visible for most of the night. Uranus will appear higher than the western planets but will need binoculars to spot.
The planets appear aligned because they all orbit the Sun along a similar flat plane. From Earth, this causes them to cluster along the same path in the sky, known as the ecliptic.
On February 28, that path stretches from the western horizon to the southeast, creating a gentle arc of planets rather than a straight line. The effect peaks around this date, though some locations may see the tightest grouping a day or two earlier or later.
Timing will play a major role. Mercury and Venus will set first, followed by Saturn and Neptune. Uranus will remain visible longer, while Jupiter will dominate the sky for most of the night. Observers should begin observing as soon as the sky darkens. Choose a location with a clear western view. A bright moon near Jupiter will make faint planets harder to see.
For more details, see Starwalk.