Six Planets Will Form a Cosmic ‘Conga Line’ in the Night Sky This Month. Here’s How to See It
A six-planet alignment is happening at the end of February, but most observers will struggle to see more than three planets without binoculars or a telescope.
KEY FACTS:
- Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter will all align in the sky on Feb. 28, visible shortly after sunset
- Only Jupiter will be easy to see with the naked eye; four of the six planets sit very close to the Sun, making them hard to spot in twilight
- Binoculars are the minimum equipment needed to have a real shot at seeing most of the planets
- The next five-planet parade won’t happen until late October 2028, with another following in February 2034
What Is a Planetary Alignment?
According to NASA, a planetary alignment is taking place throughout February.
A planetary parade occurs when multiple planets appear along the same general line in the sky as seen from Earth. This one spreads six planets across the western to eastern sky.
On Feb. 28, all six planets will appear shortly after sunset
The catch: according to Space.com, four of those planets — Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune — are very close to the Sun. That means they sit low on the horizon and are visible only briefly in bright twilight.
“Four of those planets will be visible to the unaided eye, weather permitting, but only those with optical assistance will be able to view Uranus and Neptune (Mercury can sometimes be harder to spot, too),” adds Alyssa Lee of NASA.
Planet-by-Planet Breakdown for Feb. 28
Not all six planets are equal when it comes to spotting them. Here’s what to expect, ranked easiest to hardest.
Jupiter (magnitude –2.3) will be the easiest to see and may be the only one you spot without equipment. It reached peak visibility in January but will still be bright. By sunset, it’ll be high in the eastern sky, higher than the Moon and close to bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
Uranus (magnitude 5.7) may be visible with binoculars and will likely be the second-easiest to spot after Jupiter. Look for it below the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus.
Venus (magnitude –3.8) and Mercury (magnitude 0.3) both sit between Earth and the Sun and both will require binoculars on Feb. 28. Mercury will actually be easier to see on Feb. 19 and 20, but Venus will be lower in the sky at that time. Feb. 28 is a compromise date where both are somewhat visible.
Saturn (magnitude 1) will be past its best by Feb. 28. Its peak visibility was in early February, and it’ll be barely visible to the naked eye. You’ll likely see it in a cluster with Venus and Mercury. Saturn is moving toward solar conjunction on March 25, when it’ll be temporarily invisible.
Neptune (magnitude 8) requires a small telescope and will likely be the toughest to spot. It’s the most distant planet in the solar system. By Feb. 28, Neptune will be low on the western horizon by sunset, close to Saturn.
In addition to those six planets, a 92%-illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will be high in the eastern sky. The Beehive Cluster (M44) may be visible below the Moon with binoculars.
This happens just days before a total lunar eclipse on March 3 — so late February into early March is a packed stretch for sky watchers.
What You Need for a Real Shot
Observers will need a clear view due west, clear skies and binoculars or a telescope at minimum. A small telescope opens up Neptune as a possibility; binoculars alone should handle Uranus and help with Mercury and Venus in the twilight.
But the window is tight.
You’re working with the brief stretch after sunset when the sky is dark enough to reveal faint planets but before they dip below the horizon. Start scanning west immediately after sunset, then work your way east toward Jupiter.
Here’s a list to help guide you through February’s planetary alignment:
- Start watching Mercury on Feb. 19 and 20, when it’s easier to spot, to learn where to look near the western horizon
- On Feb. 28, find a location with a completely unobstructed view to the west — buildings, trees, even gentle hills will block the low-hanging planets
- Bring binoculars at minimum; a small telescope gives you a shot at Neptune
- Begin scanning west right after sunset — Venus, Mercury and Saturn will be in a tight cluster low on the horizon and won’t be visible for long
- Shift your gaze upward and east to find Uranus below the Pleiades, then continue to Jupiter near Castor and Pollux in Gemini
- Look for the bright waxing gibbous Moon high in the east, and sweep binoculars below it to catch the Beehive Cluster
Is the Planetary Parade Worth Your Time?
If you’re hoping to walk outside with no equipment and see six planets in a clean line, you’ll be disappointed.
The honest assessment is that most people will see Jupiter easily, possibly spot Uranus with binoculars, and struggle with everything else in the twilight glare.
But the alignment itself is uncommon. For anyone with a pair of binoculars and a clear western horizon, Feb. 28 is worth stepping outside. And if you don’t see anything, check social media for professional photos as a backup plan.
BOTTOM LINE: February’s six-planet alignment is real but overhyped for the casual observer — grab binoculars for a genuine shot, or mark your calendar for the total lunar eclipse on March 3 as the easier spectacle to watch.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
