A planetary parade is when multiple planets appear close together in the sky from Earth’s perspective. On February 28, 2026, six planets — Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune — will appear in the evening sky after sunset, offering one of the year’s best stargazing events.
🗓️ 1. When to Watch: Peak Viewing Window
🌇 Best date: February 28, 2026 — this is when the planets appear most tightly grouped.
🕗 Best time: About 30–90 minutes after local sunset.
- Start looking as soon as the sky gets dark — especially for the low-horizon planets like Mercury and Venus.
- After ~90 minutes many planets will begin setting below the horizon.
📍Clear skies—and a clear view toward the western horizon—are essential.
🔭 2. Which Planets You Can See (and How Easy They Are)
✨ Visible With the Naked Eye
These planets are bright and easier to spot without equipment:
- Venus – brightest, low in the west just after sunset
- Jupiter – bright and high in the southeastern sky
- Saturn – pale yellow, near the horizon
- Mercury – low and subtle, just above the western horizon (short visibility)
🔎 Needs Binoculars or Telescope
Fainter, distant planets require optical help:
- Uranus – higher in the sky between Saturn and Jupiter
- Neptune – very faint near Saturn’s position
👀 3. Where to Look in the Sky
🔭 Western/Southwestern horizon: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune
🌌 Above southwest: Uranus
🌠 Eastern to southeast sky: Jupiter (bright and easier to spot throughout the evening)
The planets roughly follow Earth’s orbital plane — the ecliptic — so you’ll find them along that arc.
✨ 4. Tips for Best Viewing
🌅 Before You Go Outside
✔ Choose a spot with a wide, unobstructed horizon — hills, buildings, or trees near the horizon can block planets like Mercury and Venus.
✔ Check weather forecasts: clouds can hide fainter planets.
🧰 Helpful Tools
🔭 Binoculars or a small telescope — essential for Uranus and Neptune.
📱 Stargazing apps (like Star Walk 2, SkyView, or Stellarium) — show real-time planet positions based on your location.
🌌 Timeliness Matters
Planets above the horizon shift quickly after sunset — don’t wait too long, especially if you want to catch Mercury and Venus.
🌎 5. Where This Is Visible
This planetary parade will be visible from most parts of the world, including india and the Northern Hemisphere, as long as you have a clear western horizon and low light pollution.
In india, clear evening skies in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad will help you catch this event.
💡 Quick Recap
🌠 What: Six-planet alignment featuring Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune
📆 When: February 28, 2026 (best date)
⏰ Best time: ~30–90 minutes after sunset
👁️ Where to look: West to east arc along the sky’s ecliptic
🔭 Gear: Naked eye for bright planets; binoculars/telescope for fainter ones
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
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