02/17/2026
Mark your calendars for the six-planet parade on February 28!
Six planets are currently moving into position for a grand alignment of our solar system. On February 28, 2026, this slow cosmic drift will culminate in a spectacular six-planet parade.
Shortly after sunset, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune will appear to form a jagged line across the night sky. While the planets are actually millions of miles apart in their own separate orbits, their positions relative to Earth will make them look like they are marching in a row.
This is a rare opportunity for backyard observers. According to NASA, four of these planets — Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury — should be possible to spot with the naked eye. Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest objects in the show, acting as easy landmarks for anyone looking up. Mercury will be visible lower on the horizon, while the distant ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, will require a telescope or high-powered binoculars to identify.
The physics behind a planetary parade is a matter of orbital timing. Each planet orbits the Sun at a different speed. Mercury zips around the Sun in just 88 days, while Neptune takes about 165 years to complete a single loop. Because of these vast differences in speed and distance, it is rare for so many to reach the same side of the Sun at the same time from our perspective on Earth. The last time a similar alignment occurred was years ago, and a six-planet event like this is a highlight of the decade for astronomers.
For those planning to watch, the best view will be in areas with low light pollution and a clear view of the western horizon. The alignment follows the ecliptic, the same path the Sun travels during the day. As the sky darkens on the 28th, the planets will begin to reveal themselves one by one, clicking into a formation that humans have tracked for thousands of years.
It is a humbling reminder that we are passengers on a massive, moving machine.
