Six Planets Align This Weekend in Night Sky Parade

Six planets are about to put on a show in the night sky, and this weekend is your chance to see them all at once.

The 2026 Planet Parade arrives this Saturday, February 28, when Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune will all appear visible from Earth at the same time. The best viewing window comes about an hour after sunset when you look west toward the horizon.

A planet parade happens when planets orbit to the same side of the sun, making them visible to us simultaneously. According to NASA, these alignments aren't as rare as you might think, though adding Mercury and Venus to the mix makes this one special.

Four planets will shine bright enough to see with just your eyes. Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury should all be visible without any equipment if you catch them at the right moment.

The other two require a bit more help. Uranus and Neptune sit much farther away, so you'll need binoculars or a small telescope to spot them in the lineup.

Timing matters for this celestial event. Both Mercury and Venus orbit close to the sun with quick cycles, so they only appear visible for short windows throughout the year. Mercury completes its orbit in just 88 days, giving skywatchers only brief chances to catch it.

The Bright Side

While catching all six planets requires perfect timing, clear weather, and minimal light pollution, even glimpsing a few makes the effort worthwhile. The night sky offers free entertainment that reminds us we're part of something much bigger.

This isn't the only chance to see multiple planets align. Last February, seven planets lined up just after sunset in a similar parade. These cosmic moments happen regularly enough that missing this one means another opportunity will come around.

Finding a spot away from city lights will give you the best view. An unobstructed western horizon helps too, since the planets will appear low in the sky near where the sun just set.

Even if clouds roll in or you can't spot all six, the attempt alone offers a reason to step outside and look up. In a world of endless screens, the universe still knows how to capture our attention.