Planets Aligning Tonight: how and when to see 6 planets aligned and why planets aligning tonight matters for skywatchers
Six worlds — Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus and Mercury — are staging a planetary parade this week, and for observers wondering about planets aligning tonight the timing and conditions will determine how much of the display is visible. The lineup peaks around the nights surrounding Feb. 28, and the event matters because preparation, equipment and weather will shape whether you can spot everything from naked-eye planets to faint ice giants.
Which planets are in the planetary parade and where they sit
The six planets named in the coverage are Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus and Mercury. Most of the naked-eye action will take place low in the western sky: Mercury is described as shining about 10 degrees above the late winter skyline — roughly the width of a clenched fist held at arm's length — with Venus close to its left. Saturn will glow less than 10 degrees to the upper left of Venus, "with a distant cousin lurking nearby, " a line in the piece notes, and Jupiter will shine high in the eastern sky.
Planets Aligning Tonight: where to look and when to plan your viewing
Observers are advised to stake out a raised location with a clear view of the horizon well ahead of time to see planets aligning tonight. Mercury and Venus will follow the sun out of sight roughly an hour after sunset, briefly becoming more visible as the sky darkens and they grow closer to the horizon. Meanwhile, Jupiter will be visible high in the eastern sky, with the waxing gibbous moon below it and obscuring the stars of the constellation Cancer with its reflected light.
How Neptune and Saturn relate and the telescope needed
Neptune will be positioned about two degrees to the right of Saturn but is too dim to spot with the unaided eye. Under dark skies, a telescope with an aperture of 8 inches (200 millimeters) or more can reveal Neptune's tiny bluish disk. The planet's position low on the horizon and close to the glare of the sun make it a particular challenge to spot on the nights surrounding Feb. 28, and observers are warned to ensure the sun is firmly below the horizon before pointing telescopic equipment in its general direction.
Finding Uranus and tools for newcomers
Uranus is located by sweeping a scope across the patch of sky about 5 degrees below the Pleiades open star cluster, to the right of the "V" formation of stars in the constellation Taurus in the hours following sunset. Newcomers to the night sky are encouraged to use a smartphone astronomy app: the coverage notes that these apps use augmented reality to help pinpoint constellations, planets, galaxies and meteor shower radiants so there is no need to guess where objects will appear in your local environment.
Practical tips, safety notes and photographic hurdles
The ability to spot this parade will hinge on preparation, equipment and a spot of luck with the weather. Practical steps emphasized include choosing a raised location with a clear horizon, arriving well ahead of sunset, and using a smartphone stargazing app to map the sky. Mercury is about 10 degrees above the skyline with Venus to its left, and Saturn sits less than 10 degrees upper left of Venus; observers should note that Mercury and Venus set roughly an hour after sunset. The piece also highlights safety: the utmost care must be taken to ensure the sun is firmly below the horizon before pointing telescopic equipment in its general direction. Finally, award-winning night sky photographer Josh Dury is said to have grappled with the sheer scope of the scene, the glow of the setting sun and other challenges while trying to capture the alignment.
