The latter part of February 2026 will bring a unusual astronomical phenomenonThe presence of six planets spread across the same band of the sky at dusk. It will be one of those occasions when it's worth bundling up, finding a dark spot, and looking up.
For several days, and especially markedly around the February 28, what many popularizers call will occur “planetary parade”An apparent alignment in which Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are grouped along the ecliptic, the path the Sun follows across the sky. They won't form a perfect line in space, but from Earth they will appear to share the same area of the evening sky.
What is the six-planet alignment of February 2026?
In astronomy, a planetary alignment This occurs when several planets appear concentrated in a relatively narrow section of the celestial sphere, as seen from Earth. In this case, the main focus will be on... six members of the Solar SystemMercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, all visible after sunset.
This type of configuration does not mean that the planets are perfectly aligned around the Sun; what happens is a visual grouping along the eclipticFrom our perspective, we will see them draw a gentle arc across the sky from west to east at nightfall.
The unique aspect of this occasion is that Four of those planets will be visible without instrumentsThis is not so common when so many bodies are involved at once. Furthermore, the fact that the event takes place in the afternoon makes it easier for most people to observe, without having to stay up late.
In the sky, the Almost full moonwhich will be located very close to Jupiter During the peak days of the phenomenon, its brightness will serve as a reference point for orientation, although at the same time it can complicate the view of fainter objects.
When will the planetary “parade” be visible in Spain and Europe?
The date that many calendars mark in red is the February 28th 2026, when the alignment will appear most compact for much of the planet. For observers in Spain and the rest of EuropeThe visibility window will extend from the last days of February to the first days of March.
Calculations indicate that in European cities like Athens, New York, or Mexico City The clustering will be more noticeable on the 28th itself, while in cities like Berlin or London the maximum will shift towards the 1 MarchIn more northerly positions, such as Reykjavik, the best time could be delayed until... 2 March.
In the Iberian Peninsula, conditions will be similar to those in other European capitals at mid-latitudes, so between February 28 and March 1 That's when the "parade" will be most spectacular. It's also worth paying attention to the nights immediately before and after, as the change from one day to the next isn't abrupt.
La key moment It will always be similar: approximately one hour after sunsetDuring that interval, the inner planets have not yet set behind the western horizon, and the more distant ones are still high in the sky, allowing the whole to be taken in at a single glance.
Which planets will be visible and how easily
During this alignment of six planets, not all the bodies will be equally easy to observe. Four of them will be visible. naked eye, while the other two will require some optical assistance.
Planets visible without instruments
- VenusIt will be the most obvious beacon in the evening sky, the brightest object after the Moon, dominating the western area with a very intense white light.
- JupiterIt will appear high to the east or southeast, very bright and easy to locate, near the almost full moon around the middle dates.
- SaturnIt will have a moderate, yellowish, and stable brightness, without flickering, which allows it to be distinguished from nearby stars.
- MercuryIt will be the most elusive, very low on the western horizon and visible for a short time after sunset.
Planets that require binoculars or a telescope
- UranusLocated higher in the sky, in the area of the constellation Taurus and close to the Pleiades cluster, it will be perceived as a weak point that is worth following. binoculars.
- NeptunoIt will be the most demanding; located in the vicinity of Saturn, it will need powerful binoculars or a small telescope and a very dark sky to distinguish it.
The particular visibility of each planet will also depend on the light pollution and atmospheric conditions from the observation site. In urban areas, Venus and Jupiter will be easy to see, Saturn somewhat less obvious, and Uranus and Neptune quite difficult to follow except with appropriate equipment.
Where to look in the sky: practical guidance
On the evening of February 28, the planets will appear scattered from west to east following the eclipticThe general provision, also valid for Spain and much of Europe, will be as follows:
- West / SouthwestIn the lower band of the sky, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and the elusive Neptune will be grouped together.
- Southwest, at a higher altitudeUranus will be located slightly higher, near the well-known Pleiades cluster in Taurus.
- East and Southeast: towards the other side of the sky, Jupiter will shine brightly accompanied by the Moon.
The sensation will be that of observing a soft arc of planetary lightsWith the bodies closest to the Sun very close to the horizon and those farther away spread out across the rest of the celestial sphere. This curve corresponds to the apparent path along which the Sun, the Moon, and the planets move throughout the year.
At the southern hemisphere The planetary configuration will be similar, but the arc of the alignment will appear tilted in the opposite direction. In any case, the main reference point will always be sunset: from there, it's best to scan the sky from the low west to the high east.
For those who are not used to orienting themselves by constellations, it is helpful to first identify Venus and JupiterThe brightest points in the sky on those dates. From them, it becomes much easier to locate the rest of the planets along the ecliptic.
Differences between planetary alignment and conjunctions
This event in February 2026 is a good example to clarify the difference between planetary alignment y planetary conjunction, two terms that are often confused in news and social media.
A lineup, like the one that will take place at the end of February, describes the situation in which Several planets are concentrated in the same region of the skywithout needing to be extremely close to each other. Visually, they appear spread out along a section of the ecliptic, but still with some angular separation.
In contrast, we speak of conjunction when Two celestial bodies appear very close to each other From our perspective, they are almost touching or even sharing the same ecliptic longitude. February will also see some striking conjunctions, such as that of Saturn and Neptune or Mercury's approaches to other planets, but these are "paired" encounters, not necessarily linked to a major alignment.
Understanding this distinction helps in interpreting astronomical calendars: The lineups offer expansive scenes with multiple protagonists, while conjunctions highlight very close meetings between two specific objects.
Tips for observing the alignment from Spain and Europe
To make the most of this phenomenon, it's worth doing some basic planning for your observation outing. A few simple steps can make the difference between seeing just a couple of bright points of light and enjoying the full array of six planets.
- Choose a dark placeThe further away from streetlights and spotlights, the better. Rural areas or viewpoints on the outskirts of cities offer much clearer skies.
- Ensure a clear western horizonTall buildings, mountains, or trees can obscure Mercury and Venus, which are very close to the horizon.
- Start soonIt is advisable to be prepared. as soon as the sky begins to darkenbecause Mercury and Venus will disappear relatively quickly.
- Avoid looking at the sun with binoculars.: You have to wait until the solar disk has completely set before using binoculars or a telescope in the western part of the sky.
- Adapt your eyes to the darkTry not to expose yourself to bright screens for about 20 minutes before observing; you'll notice faint objects better.
If you have medium binocularsThese may be more than enough to resolve Uranus and locate Neptune near Saturn. A small telescope will make it easier to track the more distant planets, but it's not essential to enjoy the overall view of the "parade."
To accurately identify what you're seeing, the following are useful: astronomy mobile appsThese apps display a real-time map of the sky when you point your phone at the celestial sphere. Features like "Planet Walk" or dedicated planet menus allow you to highlight all celestial bodies at once and track them one by one.
These types of tools can complement traditional observation, especially for those who are starting out in the hobby and are not yet comfortable recognizing constellations or apparent movements of the stars.
The February 2026 closing date is thus shaping up to be a very attractive opportunity for those living in Spain and the rest of Europe: a rare astronomical eventvisible at reasonable hours, which will allow you to see up to six planets of the Solar System spread across the evening sky at a glance, provided the weather is good and a good observation site is chosen.
