Seven Planets Align on 28th of February

Seven Planets Align in Rare Celestial Event This Weekend

In a captivating astronomical event, all seven planets of our Solar System beyond Earth will form a “planetary parade” on Friday, February 28, 2025, offering stargazers a rare opportunity to witness this alignment that won’t occur again until 2040.

The term ‘planet alignment’ or ‘planet parade’ refers to when multiple planets appear along a curved line in the night sky known as the ecliptic – the apparent path the Sun traces across our sky. This natural phenomenon results from our Solar System having formed from a disc of material around our newborn Sun, causing all planets to orbit in roughly the same plane.

“Friday 28 February is the special date, with seven planets visible in the sky – if the night is clear,” explains Associate Professor of Physics David Armstrong at The University of Warwick. “This ‘great planetary alignment’ won’t happen again until 2040, as it needs all the planets to be on the same side of the Sun.”

The ideal time to observe this alignment is around 18:00 UT (Universal Time), shortly after sunset, when Mercury joins the six planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune – that have been visible throughout January and February 2025.

However, stargazers should temper expectations about the visibility of all seven planets simultaneously. While Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus will be readily observable in the evening sky, the other three planets present viewing challenges.

Venus remains spectacular and easily identifiable as the brightest “star” in the western sky after sunset. Mars, having reached opposition in January, appears high in the southern sky around 21:00 UT, while Jupiter shines brightly in the southwest around 20:30 UT. Uranus, while technically visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions, typically requires good eyesight and dark skies.

The most challenging planets to observe will be Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune. Mercury and Saturn will appear very close to the horizon in the west-southwest shortly after sunset, requiring a clear, unobstructed view. Neptune presents the greatest difficulty, as it sets close to the Sun and requires binoculars or a telescope even under optimal conditions.

“They say that one person in 1,000 ever sees Mercury and knows they’re seeing it,” notes Michael Shanahan, director of the Liberty Science Center Planetarium in New Jersey. “You only see it near the sun in the sky when it emerges for a few minutes at sunset or coming up right before dawn.”

For the best viewing experience, experts recommend finding a location away from light pollution with a clear western horizon. Binoculars or a telescope will significantly enhance the experience, particularly for spotting the more distant planets.

“Any time you have at least three bright, easy-to-find planets, that’s a good time to go out and enjoy the view,” Shanahan adds, emphasizing that even if you can’t spot all seven planets, the visible ones still offer a fascinating glimpse into our cosmic neighborhood.

The next opportunity to witness all seven planets aligned will come on September 8, 2040, when they will cluster above the setting sun.

After this alignment, sky enthusiasts can look forward to a total lunar eclipse on March 14, 2025, visible throughout the Americas, when the moon will turn dark or blood red in what Shanahan describes as “a beautiful, eerie sight.”