You might be hearing about a “parade of planets” coming up on Feb. 28, 2026. Six planets — Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune — will all be above the horizon after sunset.

But you’ll likely only see one, maybe two of those planets that evening. Here’s why.

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Two of those planets -- Uranus and Neptune -- require a telescope to see, so that brings us down to four.

Mercury and Saturn are pretty close to the Sun in our sky right now which means they’ll be very close to the horizon at sunset. This gives you about an hour to see them. Unless you are on top of a mountain or along the eastern edge of something really flat, like a big lake or field, they’ll probably be hidden behind trees.

This leaves Venus, which is bright enough to be seen shortly after sunset, but it’s hanging out there down around Mercury, about 5 degrees above the horizon, so likely behind the trees.

Jupiter will be visible that evening, high in the western sky, nearly overhead. But that’s true right now as well. 

Jupiter will be visible from sunset to just before sunrise all month. Even a small set of binoculars will reveal its moons. Jupiter is moving through the constellation Gemini, so look to the left and you’ll find the bright stars Castor and Pollux.

Greek mythology tells of these brothers who shared a mother Queen Leda of Sparta. While Castor’s mortal daddy was Tyndareus, king of Sparta, Pollux was immortal, a son of Zeus.