"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."
"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."
The 2026 Planet Parade will briefly display six planets visible simultaneously, with Mars absent this year. A similar alignment occurred in February 2025 when seven planets lined up after sunset. Planet parades occur when multiple planets fall on the same side of the Sun, making them visible together. Venus and Mercury orbit closer to the Sun than Earth and appear only briefly: Venus near its greatest elongation for a couple of months and Mercury for only days or weeks due to its 88-day orbit. Observers should look west about an hour after sunset on February 28 and need clear skies and precise timing to see all six.
Read at Fast Company
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