Rare Planetary Alignment on February 28, 2026: How to See Six Planets After Sunset
On February 28, 2026, six planets will be visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Four planets can be observed with the naked eye (though spotting Mercury may be tricky), while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope. Viewing time and directions depend on your location — use Star Walk 2 to get exact guidance in real time.
Contents
- What Happens During the Planetary Alignment on February 28?
- When to See Six Planets Align?
- Where to Look to See the Planetary Alignment on February 28, 2026?
- Quick Tips for Observing the February 2026 Planet “Parade”
- Six-Planet Alignment on February 28, 2026: Bottom Line
What Happens During the Planetary Alignment on February 28?
The planetary alignment of February 28, 2026, is an evening event during which six planets will gather in one region of the sky. This parade will include:
- Mercury
- Venus
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Uranus
- Neptune
Such celestial events are pretty uncommon, especially when four bright planets can be seen at once without any optical aid. What makes this “parade” even more special is its evening visibility, which is more convenient for most observers than early-morning alignments. If you want to learn more about planet “parades” and find out about the upcoming spectacular alignments, read our dedicated article.
When to See Six Planets Align?
- Main date: February 28, 2026
- Best time: about 1 hour after sunset
- Visibility window: late February to early March (varies by location)
February 28 is a median date — the moment when the planets appear most tightly grouped for many locations worldwide. Depending on where you live, the best viewing date may fall a few days earlier or later.
Best Dates to See the Planet “Parade” by Location
Here are example dates when the planets gather in the smallest sector of the sky:
- São Paulo: February 25
- Athens: February 28
- New York: February 28
- Mexico City: February 28
- Tokyo: February 28
- Beijing: March 1
- Berlin: March 1
- London: March 1
- Mumbai: March 1
- Reykjavík: March 2
To choose the best viewing date and time for your location, use the Planet Walk feature in the Star Walk 2 app.
Which Planets Will Be Visible During the Planetary Alignment?
During the planetary alignment on February 28, six planets will be visible in the evening sky, but not all of them will be equally easy to spot. Some shine brightly, while others are fainter and require binoculars or a telescope. Here they are, arranged by visibility from easiest to most challenging to observe.
Naked-eye planets:
- Venus (mag −3.9) — the brightest object in the sky (after the Moon)
- Jupiter (mag −2.4) — also brilliant and unmistakable
- Saturn (mag 1.0) — moderately bright and easy to spot
- Mercury (mag 1.6) — small and subtle
Planets requiring optics:
- Uranus (mag 5.8) — binoculars required
- Neptune (mag 7.8) — powerful binoculars or a telescope required
Below, you’ll find a planet-by-planet breakdown explaining where each one appears in the sky and how its visibility changes during the evening.
Mercury: A Brief Evening Appearance
On February 28, 2026, Mercury will be nearing the end of its evening visibility period after reaching its greatest separation from the Sun earlier in the month. It will appear very low above the western horizon, in the constellation Pisces, shortly after sunset.
Because Mercury sets quickly, it will be visible only for a short amount of time — probably less than one hour. Start observing as soon as the sky darkens and make sure you have a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon.
Venus: The Bright Guidepost
Venus will be impossible to miss. Shining at magnitude −3.9 in the constellation Aquarius, it will dominate the western sky and serve as the easiest reference point for locating Mercury and the other planets.
Although Venus is the brightest planet in the alignment, it will also sit very low in the sky, requiring early-evening observation and a clear western horizon.
On the evening of February 27, Venus will pass about 5° from Mercury. On February 28, the two planets will still appear close together. However, their proximity to the Sun and low elevation above the horizon will make them harder to spot.
Saturn: Steady and Golden
Slightly higher above Venus, Saturn will glow with its characteristic soft yellow light in the constellation Pisces. Unlike stars, its light will appear steady and non-twinkling — that’s how you can recognize it. Or you can simply use the Star Walk 2 app!
Saturn’s position makes it an important visual bridge between the low-horizon planets (Mercury and Venus) and the higher parts of the alignment.
Neptune: A Subtle Neighbor of Saturn
Neptune will be located very close to Saturn in the constellation Pisces — about 1° away! Although invisible to the naked eye, it can be detected with binoculars or a small telescope under dark skies.
If you can spot Saturn first, Neptune becomes much easier to locate by scanning the area nearby.
Uranus: Higher in the Sky, But Harder to See
Uranus will appear much higher above the horizon, in the constellation Taurus. While it can technically be seen without optical aid under perfect dark-sky conditions, binoculars are strongly recommended.
Moreover, Uranus will be located not far from the Pleiades star cluster — the distance between them will be about 5°. The Pleiades (which are visible to the naked eye under dark skies) can help you find the faint planet quicker.
Jupiter: The Dazzling Giant in the Southeast
On the opposite side of the sky — high in the southeast — Jupiter will shine brightly. It will be positioned in the constellation Gemini, not far from the bright stars Castor and Pollux.
As a bonus, the 90% illuminated Moon will appear very close to Jupiter — the distance between them will be about 4°. On the downside, the almost full Moon will also brighten the sky, making faint planets like Uranus harder to spot.
How the Alignment Changes During the Night
The planetary alignment on February 28 will be best seen shortly after sunset. Here’s what will happen with the planets as the evening progresses:
- Mercury and Venus will set first
- Saturn and Neptune will follow
- Uranus will remain visible longer
- Jupiter will set last
Because of this, timing is critical — especially if you want to see all six planets in one session. Right below, we’ll show you an easy way to do it.
How to Find All Six Planets Easily
The easiest and fastest way to spot all six planets is by using the Planet Walk feature in the free Star Walk 2 app. Here’s how to use it:
- Open Star Walk 2 and go to Menu > Planets.
- Tap the Planet Walk button or select any planet in the list.
- Point your phone at the sky to match the map with real celestial objects.
- Tap any of the planet icons and follow the arrow to locate the planet in your sky.
- Tap the camera icon to turn on AR mode for an immersive sky-overlay view.
Planet Walk highlights all planets at once — something most stargazing apps can’t do.
Where to Look to See the Planetary Alignment on February 28, 2026?
On the evening of February 28, the six planets will be spread across the sky from west to east. Here’s where you should look to spot them:
- West / Southwest: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune
- Southwest (higher in the sky): Uranus
- Southeast: Jupiter, close to the bright Moon
The planets will trace a gentle arc across the sky, following the ecliptic — the path the Sun takes throughout the year.
Note that in the Southern Hemisphere, the overall layout will be similar, but the the arc of the alignment will tilt in the opposite direction.
Quick Tips for Observing the February 2026 Planet “Parade”
A few simple preparations will help you make the most of the planetary alignment in February, especially given its short evening visibility window.
- Start observing as soon as the sky darkens
- Choose a location with a clear western horizon
- Bring powerful binoculars or a telescope if you want to see Uranus and Neptune. But for safety reasons, don’t point your binoculars at Mercury or Venus — they will be too close to the Sun!
- Don’t wait too long — Mercury sets quickly!
- Remember: planets shine steadily — that’s how you can separate them from twinkling stars.
To be absolutely sure that you’re looking at a planet and not a star, identify celestial objects in real time using the Star Walk 2 app.
Six-Planet Alignment on February 28, 2026: Bottom Line
The planetary alignment on February 28, 2026, is a must-see event for both beginners and experienced skywatchers. With favorable evening timing, this planet “parade” offers a rare chance to see half a dozen planets at once! Plus, a bright, nearly full Moon near Jupiter will make the view even more striking.
To make sure you don’t miss a single planet, download the free Star Walk 2 app and use Planet Walk to guide you across the sky in real time.
Clear skies — and enjoy the celestial “parade”!
