When Will Friday’s Planetary Show Light Up the Sky? Here’s Your Must-Know Guide

Tonight, February 28, 2025, the night sky will transform into a breathtaking canvas as seven planets align in a rare and mesmerizing planetary parade.

This extraordinary event, often called a “planet alignment tonight” or “planets aligning 2025,” features Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune lining up across the heavens, offering a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for skywatchers.

If you’re wondering what time the planets align tonight or how to witness this celestial wonder, here’s everything you need to know to experience the planets aligned in all their glory.

7 Planets Align Tonight

The planets lining up tonight—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—create what astronomers call a “planetary alignment today.” This isn’t just any night sky tonight; it’s a planet parade 2025 that won’t repeat with such grandeur until 2040.

Four of these celestial giants—Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury—are bright enough to be planets visible tonight with the naked eye, while Saturn teeters on the edge of visibility. Uranus and Neptune, however, will require binoculars or a telescope to join the lineup of planets in the sky tonight.

What time do the planets align tonight? The magic begins shortly after sunset, around 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time across most of the United States, depending on your location. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a twilight glow, the planets aligned will start to reveal themselves, stretching from the west to the east in a dazzling arc.

Where and How to Catch the Planets in Tonight’s Sky

To catch the planets aligning tonight, timing and location are key. Here’s your guide to witnessing the planet lineup tonight:

• • Start at Sunset: Begin observing 30 to 45 minutes after sunset—roughly 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM local time—when the night sky tonight from your location transitions from day to dusk. This is the prime moment to see the planets line up tonight before some sink too low.

• • Look West for Venus: Venus, the brightest jewel in the solar system, will blaze low in the western sky, acting as your beacon for the planetary parade. What time do the planets align tonight with Venus leading the show? Around 6:15 PM local time, it’ll be unmistakable.

• • Spot Jupiter Overhead: High above, Jupiter will dominate the night sky tonight, shining brilliantly near the zenith. It’s one of the easiest planets visible tonight and a highlight of the 7 planets aligning 2025.

• • Find Mars in the East: Look eastward to see Mars, glowing with its signature reddish hue, rising higher as the evening unfolds. It’s a standout in the planets aligned today.

• • Track Mercury and Saturn: Low near the western horizon, Mercury and Saturn will be trickier to spot in the sunset’s afterglow. Binoculars can help reveal these elusive members of the planet parade tonight. Catch them early, before 7:30 PM, as they dip out of sight.

• • Seek Uranus and Neptune: For the full experience of the 7 planets aligned, use a telescope or strong binoculars. Uranus will hover between Venus and Jupiter, while Neptune lingers faintly near the western horizon, rounding out the planets aligning tonight.

What Time Do the Planets Align Tonight?

The planets lined up tonight won’t stay visible all night, so timing is critical. The optimal window begins around 6:00 PM local time, just after sunset, and lasts until about 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, when Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune begin to set. Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Uranus will linger longer, making them must-see planets tonight in the sky. Check your local sunset time and add 30 minutes to pinpoint when the planets align tonight at their peak.

Why This Planetary Alignment 2025 Stands Out

This isn’t just another night of planets in the sky tonight—it’s a rare alignment of the solar system’s wanderers. The last time seven planets aligned so vividly was decades ago, and the next won’t come until far into the future.

The planet alignment 2025 offers a chance to see the night sky tonight as a living map of our cosmic neighborhood, with each planet adding its unique glow to the planetary parade.

Tips for Enjoying the Planets Aligned Tonight

• • Clear Horizons: Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the western horizon to see planets like Mercury and Saturn before they vanish.

• • Dark Skies: Escape city lights to enhance visibility of the planets aligning 2025, especially faint Uranus and Neptune.

• • Patience: Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkening night sky tonight—about 20-30 minutes—to fully appreciate the planets lined up.

• • Tools: While Venus, Jupiter, and Mars shine brightly as planets visible tonight, binoculars or a telescope will unlock the full roster of the 7 planets aligned.

Planets Aligning Tonight

As the planets align tonight, you’ll witness a cosmic dance that’s both humbling and awe-inspiring. Whether you’re gazing at Venus near sunset, Jupiter overhead, or hunting Uranus with a telescope, this planet parade tonight is a celebration of the night sky tonight from your location.

So, step outside, look up, and let the planets aligned guide you through an unforgettable evening under the stars on February 28, 2025. What time do the planets align tonight? The show starts at dusk—don’t miss it!