Planet Parade 2026: A Rare Grand Alignment of 6 Planets on February 28

 

            On February 28, 2026, an extremely rare and spectacular astronomical event is set to occur in the sky, known as a 'Planet Parade' or 'Planetary Alignment.' On this day, 6 planets of our solar system will be visible in a straight line (alignment) in the sky.

The complete details of this event are as follows:

1. Which 6 planets will be visible?

The following planets will participate in this parade:

Mercury

Venus

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

2. When is the best time to watch?

            The best time to witness this event is 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. On the evening of February 28, once the sun has set, this view can be seen by looking towards the West-South direction.

3. How can it be viewed? (Visibility)

            Viewing all the planets together can be a bit challenging because some planets will be very bright while others will be quite faint:

Naked Eye: Venus and Jupiter will appear the brightest in the sky, making them easy to identify. Saturn and Mercury may also be visible to the naked eye as they will be near the horizon, but a perfectly clear sky is necessary for this.

Binoculars or Telescope: Since Uranus and Neptune are very far from Earth, you will need good binoculars or a telescope to see them.

Special Tips for Observation:

Location: Choose a spot where the western horizon is clearly visible, without obstruction from tall buildings or trees.

Pollution: This view will be much better from a dark place away from city light pollution.

Order: These planets will be arranged in a line from West to South. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn will be very close to the horizon, while Jupiter will be seen slightly higher in the sky.

            This is a rare coincidence because every planet has a different orbit, and their alignment in a single row is a very exciting event for science and astronomy enthusiasts.