The ‘planet parade’ is back: How and when to see the seven-planet February 2025 alignment in the night sky

A rare celestial event, known as a planetary parade, is occurring this week, where seven planets will align in the night sky. The planets involved are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Although not all planets will be visible to the naked eye, stargazers can witness this phenomenon. The term "planetary parade" is not a technical term in astronomy, but it's a fun way to describe the event. Planetary alignment occurs when the planets line up with each other or with the moon or stars. The eight planets in our solar system orbit the sun on a flat plane, making it inevitable that they occasionally line up. This event is not rare, but it doesn't happen every year, and experts consider it a fun phenomenon to witness. To see the planets align, stargazers should head outside on the evening of February 28, just after sunset, and use the Sky Tonight app to confirm the optimal viewing time for their location. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars can be seen with the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope. This event can inspire people to bring more alignment into their own lives, such as synchronizing with coworkers on a project.