On February 28, 2026, residents of Earth will be able to witness a rare astronomical event — a parade of six planets.
According to information from NASA, this parade will include Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. It is worth noting that on February 27, 2025, an even rarer event occurred — seven planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) aligned in a line. The next similar parade is expected only in 2040.
This phenomenon occurs because the orbits of all the planets are located close to the same plane — the ecliptic. Despite differences in speed and distance from the Sun, sometimes it appears from Earth that celestial bodies are arranged in a straight line. It is important to note that this is an optical illusion: in reality, millions and billions of kilometers stretch between the planets.
Of the six planets participating in this parade, four — Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter — will be visible to the naked eye. Observing Uranus and Neptune will require telescopes. It should be taken into account that Mercury may be poorly visible due to its low position above the horizon.
The optimal time for observation is about half an hour after sunset in your region. Experts recommend looking at the western part of the sky and choosing locations with an open horizon and good weather. The planets should be at least a few degrees above the horizon, preferably 10 degrees or higher, as the atmosphere near Earth distorts and absorbs the light of celestial objects.
This phenomenon will be observable worldwide, although the exact dates may vary slightly depending on geographical location. According to Star Walk, the best time for observation in São Paulo will be February 25, in Athens, New York, Mexico City, and Tokyo — February 28, and in Beijing, Berlin, London, and Mumbai — March 1. For Reykjavik, the optimal date is March 2.
