A uncommon planet parade is arising. Here’s what to know

• A celestial occasion referred to as a planet parade will happen on the finish of February.
• Six planets will seem in a diagonal line throughout the western sky an hour after sundown.
• Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn might be seen to the bare eye.

February will finish the month not with an additional day however with an additional particular celestial occasion.

A planet parade which is able to characteristic six planets in a diagonal path throughout the western sky, an hour after sundown. Four of the planets — Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn — might be vivid sufficient to see with the bare eye.

The final time a giant planetary parade occurred was this previous 12 months, across the similar time. Last 12 months nevertheless, seven planets aligned, which will not occur once more till 2040.

For all the most important celestial occasions of 2026, try our complete astronomical calendar in addition to our information to all the moon occasions lighting our evening skies this 12 months.

Here is all the things to learn about February’s planet parade.

Will there be a planet parade in 2026?

Yes, the planet parade might be on Feb. 28, and it’s best seen shortly after sundown.

What is the uncommon planetary parade on February 28?

The parade of planets is an astronomical phenomenon by which a number of planets seem aligned or grouped within the evening sky from Earth’s perspective.

Although the planets are usually not bodily aligned in house, they type a visually putting configuration alongside the ecliptic airplane, the obvious path of the solar throughout the sky.

Depending on the variety of seen planets, this phenomenon can vary from a mini planetary alignment involving simply three planets to a grand parade showcasing all the photo voltaic system’s main planets.

What planets are aligning in February?

February’s planet parade will characteristic six planets: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

According to Time and Date, in the course of the planet parade, Saturn and Neptune will appear even nearer to one another within the sky. According to their calculations, particularly on Feb. 20, the 2 planets have their closest method this decade, and the third closest this century, with an angular separation of roughly 0.83 levels.

How uncommon is the parade of planets?

The rarity of a planet parade will depend on the variety of planets concerned and their association. Planet parades will be categorized into differing types, in line with Star Walk:

• Mini planet parade (three planets): This is pretty frequent, occurring a number of instances annually.
• Moderate planet parade (4 or 5 planets): Happens roughly each 1 to 2 years.
• Large planet parades (six or seven planets): This is way more uncommon, occurring roughly each 10 to twenty years.
• Grand alignments (all eight planets): True grand alignments involving all eight planets are extraordinarily uncommon, occurring as soon as each 100 to 200 years or extra.

Got a narrative you wish to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.

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