When and how to view February planet alignment

Skywatchers will get a cosmic treat this week with a celestial gathering of planets.

A planetary alignment, or a “planet parade,” according to the internet, will grace our night sky just after dusk, according to SkyatNightMagazine. You can expect to see seven planets align Friday when Mercury joins Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Saturn.

But not all of them will be easy to see, especially with the naked eye. You’ll need a good pair of high-powered binoculars or a telescope to see Uranus and Neptune.

Where to view the planetary alignment

Regardless of how you’re viewing them, the hardest planets to see will be Saturn and Neptune because they are close to the horizon and the sun, according to StarWalk. If you can see them, they’ll be toward the west just after the sun sets. The time will vary based on your location. Mercury also should be visible in the western part of the sky just after sunset.

You’ll have the best chance of viewing the alignment if you can find a location free of light pollution and a view of the horizon free of obstructions like trees or tall buildings.

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More:There’s still time to see the ‘planet parade’ that began in January: Here’s what’s visible

Is a planetary alignment unusual?

It’s not especially remarkable for a few planets to line up in the sky, but when we see four or five brilliant planets at once, it’s less common, according to NASA.