Are you getting ready for the planet alignment this weekend? Six planets will be above the horizon together at once during late February, with 28 February being the date touted as the best time to see the parade.
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all visible at the same time, but you'll need careful planning and timing to see all six in one night.
Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune are all clustered together in the western sky just after sunset, so a clear, flat western horizon is needed to give yourself every chance of seeing them.
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Dr. David Armstrong is an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Warwick in UK.
He's revealed his top tips about how best to see the 28 February 2026 planet alignment, and taken a look at some of the most-asked questions.
Read our full guide to the February 2026 planet alignment.
What is the planetary parade?
These are events where we see a number of planets visible in the night sky at the same time.
Planet parades like this one where there are six planets up, four of them bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, are relatively rare.
How rare is it?
Chances to see see bright planets with your own eyes occur every few years on average, so it's not once in a lifetime.
Even so, the planets are best observable just after sunset, so this is one of the most convenient opportunities for several years.
When's the best night to watch in the UK?
The best date globally is 28 February and the best in the UK is 1 March. The planets will be visible for an hour or so after sunset, though some will stay up for longer.
Given the weather in the UK, it's worth taking a look any day when the sky is clear in late February to early March.
Where and when should we look?
The best time is about half an hour after sunset.
Most of the easily-visible planets – Saturn, Venus, Mercury – will be near the horizon to the west, with Jupiter higher in the sky and more east.
What will we see?
Saturn, Venus and Jupiter are very bright, and Saturn is a distinctive yellow colour.
Mercury can be seen with the naked eye but will be close to the horizon and can be tricky to spot. It will be a similar height and just to the right of Venus.
Neptune and Uranus require binoculars or a telescope (but caution must be taken if attempting to observe Neptune this way, as it's close to the setting Sun. If in doubt, don't attempt it).
Neptune will be very close to Saturn, which can help finding it.
Any other tips?
If you have a pair of binoculars or small telescope, try looking at Jupiter and Saturn and see if you can spot Jupiter's moons, or Saturn's rings.
Four of Jupiter's moons can sometimes be seen as bright points of light near the planet.
Again, given Saturn will be over in the west, only attempt this once the Sun has fully set.
Share your observations and photos of the 28 February 2026 planet alignment by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
