Rare Planetary Parade Visible Saturday Evening

Six planets will line up along the western horizon shortly after sunset.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A rare planetary parade will be visible on Saturday, February 28, with six planets - Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune - aligning along the western horizon shortly after sunset for 30 to 60 minutes. Viewers will need an unobstructed view of the horizon to see the event, and a telescope or binoculars may be necessary to spot the more distant planets Uranus and Neptune.

Why it matters

Planetary parades, where multiple planets appear to line up in the sky, are relatively rare occurrences. This particular parade, featuring six planets, has not been seen since August 2025 and won't happen again until 2034, making it a unique stargazing opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts.

The details

The planetary parade will be visible shortly after sunset on February 28, with the best viewing window lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Viewers will need an unobstructed view of the western horizon, as any obstructions like buildings could block the view of the closer planets. A telescope or binoculars will also be helpful to see the more distant planets Uranus and Neptune, while the closer Mercury and Venus may be harder to spot due to their proximity to the sun.

  • The planetary parade will be visible on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
  • The best viewing window will be 30 to 60 minutes after sunset.

The players

Sara Schultz

Planetarium director at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Minnesota State University Moorhead Planetarium

A planetarium that hosts monthly shows for astronomy enthusiasts.

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What they’re saying

“It's a great opportunity to spend some time looking at the sky.”

— Sara Schultz, Planetarium director (inforum.com)

“You want the sun to go down enough so that it's not too bright in the sky, but also not too far that the closer planets will have set.”

— Sara Schultz, Planetarium director (inforum.com)

What’s next

The next exciting sky event will be a blood moon and lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The takeaway

This rare planetary parade is a unique opportunity for stargazers to witness six planets aligning in the sky, an event that won't happen again until 2034. With the right viewing conditions and equipment, astronomy enthusiasts can enjoy this celestial spectacle.