Rare Planetary Parade To Light Up Maryland Skies Friday Night

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Maryland residents who look toward the western sky shortly after sunset on February 28 may see a 'planetary parade' - an unusual gathering of planets stretching across the evening horizon. This is a predictable visual effect caused by the way planets orbit the sun, even though they remain separated by millions of miles in space.

Why it matters

Planetary alignments like this are relatively rare and offer skywatchers a chance to see much of the solar system at once. While some may speculate about gravitational effects, scientists say there is no evidence to support claims that these alignments influence tides, earthquakes or human behavior.

The details

The best opportunity to see the planetary grouping will be shortly after sunset on February 28. Not all planets will be equally easy to spot, with Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus being the most visible, while Uranus and Neptune are much dimmer. Visibility will depend heavily on weather conditions and local light pollution.

• The planetary parade will occur shortly after sunset on February 28, 2026.

What’s next

Upcoming planetary alignments include a five-planet visible before sunrise in late October 2028 and a five-planet visible after sunset in late February 2034, though Mercury and Venus may be challenging to observe in the latter.