01/03/2026
This evening, if you step outside 30 minutes after sunset and gently rotate from west to east, you'll glide your gaze across six planets in the solar system.
On February 28, six planets are visible in the evening sky at once: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. They trace a sweeping arc along the ecliptic, the invisible path the Sun follows during the day. This is the same flat plane our solar system was born from, 4.6 billion years ago, and tonight you can see it drawn across the sky in planets. ✨
Here's what to expect realistically. Jupiter rules the eastern sky, blazing at magnitude -2.3 near Castor and Pollux in Gemini, with a 92% Moon glowing just 4° away. That alone is worth stepping outside for. High above Orion, Uranus rests below the Pleiades in Ta**us, visible with binoculars.
Now turn west. This is where it gets tricky. Venus, Mercury, and Saturn are all huddled low on the western horizon in the fading twilight. Venus is the brightest, but sits low. Mercury is fading fast. Saturn is almost gone. You'll need a clear, flat western horizon and good timing. Neptune is near Saturn but requires a telescope.
Clear skies ✨
