Skygazers have one final chance to witness a breathtaking planetary alignment before the phenomenon disappears for the next 15 years. On February 28, seven planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—will appear in the night sky, forming what astronomers call a "planetary parade."
This unique event follows an earlier alignment between January 21 and 29, when six planets were visible. The upcoming alignment will be the last time until 2040 that all seven planets will be seen together in the sky.
Understanding Planetary Alignments
Planetary alignment occurs when multiple planets cluster on one side of the Sun, appearing close to each other from Earth’s perspective. Astronomers define an alignment as any gathering of three or more planets, with larger alignments—especially those involving six or seven planets—being far less frequent.
Although many illustrations depict planets forming a perfect line, this is not the case in reality. Due to the varying orbits of planets in three-dimensional space, they never align in an exact straight line but still create a remarkable visual spectacle.
NASA notes that this phenomenon happens because all planets orbit within the solar system’s ecliptic plane, allowing them to occasionally appear in a near-linear formation from Earth’s viewpoint.
Best Ways to Observe the Planetary Parade
For the best view of this rare alignment, stargazers should head to an open space away from urban lights. With favorable weather conditions, most planets can be seen with the naked eye, though Uranus and Neptune might require a telescope.
Here's where to look in the sky:
- Mars will be visible in the eastern sky
- Jupiter and Uranus will appear in the southeast
- Venus, Neptune, and Saturn will be seen in the west
While January featured the Quadrantid meteor shower and an early planetary gathering, February’s full alignment promises to be one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year. Don't miss this final chance to witness the planetary parade before it vanishes for over a decade!
