The ‘planet parade’ starts this weekend. Saturday is your best chance to see it

If you’re looking for a good reason to stop staring at screens this weekend, we’ve got you. This weekend, there’s an exciting astronomical event taking to the skies. The 2026 Planet Parade, an extraordinary event where six planets will be visible all at once, just for a moment, is coming.

If you’re a seasoned skywatcher, you might remember that in 2025, there was a Planet Parade, too. Last February, seven planets, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, all lined up just after sunset. 

This year, only six planets—because Mars is taking a raincheck—will make an appearance. And, according to astronomers, the show will be just as quick as last year’s.

What is a planet parade?

As our planets orbit the sun, occasionally, they line up on the same side of the sun, making them visible to us at the same time. According to NASA, planet parades aren’t as rare as you might think. “Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are frequently seen in the night sky, but the addition of Venus and Mercury make four- and five-planet lineups particularly noteworthy,” the site explains.

It continues, “Both orbit closer to the Sun than Earth, with smaller, faster orbits than the other planets. Venus is visible for only a couple of months at a time when it reaches its greatest separation from the Sun (called elongation), appearing just after sunset or before sunrise. Mercury, completing its orbit in just 88 days, is visible for only a couple of weeks (or even a few days) at a time just after sunset or just before sunrise.”

How can I see the planet parade?

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of six planets all at once, you’ll have to look up at the exact right moment and in the right direction. According to Star Walk, the best time to try will be around an hour after sunset on February 28. You’ll want to look West, toward the sunset. But even with the planets on the same side of the sun, you’ll need luck on your side to see them all at once, too. 

“Four of them (Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury) will be easily visible to the naked eye,” the site explains. However, some planets will be tougher to spot. “For Uranus and Neptune, get a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.”

Along with luck, you’ll need good weather, and little light pollution, which can impact your view, as well. And, according to Space.com, not only will you need an unobstructed view and binoculars, but you may also need “a healthy dose of imagination.” 

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