February's 'rare planetary alignment' is coming — here's what to expect from the planet parade

image via Space.com

February 3, 2026, 5:00 PM

• •Mercury will be easiest to see earlier in the month, highest in the post-sunset sky on Feb. 19-20.
• •Saturn is slowly moving towards the sun's glare and will require the naked eye to see.
• •Uranus will hang just beneath the Pleiades (M45) open cluster on Feb. 28 and require binoculars.
• •Jupiter will be the easiest planet to see, but not as bright as Venus.
• •Observe planets throughout February, not just on Feb. 28, to maximize viewing opportunities.

On February 28th, six planets—Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter—will appear together in the evening sky, but observing them will be difficult. Four planets will be close to the sun and visible for only a short time, making it a challenge to see more than three. Binoculars are recommended for inner planets like Venus and Mercury, and a small telescope for Neptune. Despite the hype, the "planet parade" is more of a viewing challenge than a spectacle.

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