2026, February 22: Seven-Planet Parade Claim Examined: What’s Visible

February 22, 2026: Are seven planets visible at once this month? A careful sky examination shows which planets can actually be seen and which cannot.

Venus, crescent moon, Spica, November 12, 2020
2020, November 12: One hour before sunrise, brilliant Venus is 0.3° to the lower left of Theta Virginis (θ Vir) in the east-southeastern sky. The crescent moon is 6.5° above Venus and 2.9° to the lower left of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir). Spica is 6.5° to the lower right of Venus, Mercury is hidden by clouds.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:36 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:33 p.m. CST.  Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.

Planet Parade?

As the month enters the final week, online sources are calling for a display of seven planets, popularly known as a planet parade, at month’s end that would stretch from the eastern sky to the western horizon. Here is a careful examination:

Planets Not Visible for a Planet Parade

2007, December 1: Late winter in the northern hemisphere shows clouds above the northern polar cap and some above the southern cap.
Photo Caption – 2007, December 1: Late winter in the northern hemisphere shows clouds above the northern polar cap and some above the southern cap. (NASA Photo)

First, Mars is not in the evening sky. It is now west of the sun after its conjunction with the central star nearly two months ago. The Red Planet rises 20 minutes before sunrise.

Venus, Mercury, Saturn, February 22, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, February 22: At 45 minutes after sunset, Venus, Mercury, and Saturn are in the west-southwest.

Tonight, Mercury, the innermost planet, is less than 10° above the west-southwest horizon after sunset. Its best view occurred on the 19th when it was at greatest elongation, appearing farthest from the sun. The planet slowly recedes into brighter twilight, fading by over 20% each night and setting nearly four minutes earlier each evening. In a week, it is low in the sky, considerably dimmer, and veiled by twilight. This planet is not visible for a seven-planet parade at month’s end.

Neptune, seven of its 18 satellites, rings, and atmospheric features are seen in the Webb Space Telescope infrared view of the planet
Photo Caption – Neptune, seven of its 18 satellites, rings, and atmospheric features are seen in the Webb Space Telescope infrared view of the planet. Triton is very bright in the image because its surface is highly reflective while Neptune’s atmosphere absorbs infrared making it appear dimmer (NASA Photo).

Neptune is in the same binocular field of view with Saturn, but its observing window has closed. The planet is dim and greatly affected by twilight and its altitude — height above the horizon — which places the Distant World low in the sky where thicker air dims and blurs the planet. Neptune is not visible for a planet parade.

Planets Marginally Visible

Saturn is ending its apparition as it slowly slides into evening twilight. Tonight, it is 10° to Mercury’s upper left. It is noticeably dimmer than the Elusive Planet. Use a binocular to find the Ringed Wonder 15° above the west-southwest horizon. During the next week, Saturn dips farther into twilight, setting 30 minutes earlier than tonight and appearing 10° above the horizon 45 minutes after sunset. Seeing Saturn in a week is marginal to the unaided eye, though likely visible through a binocular. It remains low in the sky.

Planets Clearly Visible

Venus from Galileo (NASA photo)
Photo Caption – Venus as viewed from the Galileo spacecraft (NASA photo)

Venus is emerging from bright sunlight into the western evening sky. Tonight, 30 minutes after sunset, it is nearly 5° above the west-southwest horizon. It gains one minute of setting time compared to sunset during the next week. Find a clear horizon in Venus’ direction.

Moon, February 22, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, February 22: During evening twilight, the moon is in the west-southwest to Hamal’s upper left.

At 45 minutes after sunset, the crescent moon, 33% illuminated, is over 50° above the west-southwest horizon. It is 8.1° to Hamal’s upper left, Aries’ brightest star. Tonight, the moon is bright enough to cast shadows on the ground. On the night of the purported planet parade, the lunar orb, at the gibbous phase, is east of bright Jupiter.

Jupiter, February 22, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, February 22: At 45 minutes after sunset, Jupiter is in the east-southeast near Castor and Pollux.

During evening twilight, bright Jupiter is over halfway from the east-southeast horizon to overhead. Step outside and look into the east-southeastern sky. “That bright star” is Jupiter, which is near Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins. It dominates the evening sky until Venus becomes easier to see in a few weeks.

Binocular View: Uranus in the same field of view with the Pleiades
Chart Caption – 2026, Late February: Through a binocular Uranus is in the same field of view with the Pleiades star cluster, near 13 and 14 Tauri (Tau).

Appearing as an aquamarine star, Uranus requires a binocular. It becomes visible after twilight ends and the sky is dark. It is in the same field of view with the Pleiades star cluster near the stars 13 and 14 Tauri (Tau). Resembling a miniature dipper, the stellar bundle is over 15° to the upper left of the lunar orb tonight.

Conclusion

A comparison of Venus, Earth, Moon and Mars. (NASA)
Chart Caption – A comparison of Venus, Earth, Moon and Mars. (NASA)

A seven-planet parade stretching across the sky does not occur at month’s end. During the next few evenings, observers may see Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Moon during twilight, followed by Uranus through a binocular when the sky is dark. In a week, Mercury, Mars, and Neptune are not realistically visible for a seven-planet display, while Saturn is marginal.

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