February 28th sees a rare seven-planet alignment in the skies. Such an occurrence won’t happen again until 2040, making it a must-see for astronomy nuts and stargazers.

So what actually is a planetary alignment? Often also referred to as a ‘planetary parade’, this occurs when multiple planets appear to line up in the sky from Earth’s perspective. This alignment is an optical illusion resulting from the planets’ positions in their respective orbits around the Sun.

In this particular event, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

Why is this alignment significant?

Alignments involving so many planets are exceptionally rare. This week’s alignment is unique because it features all seven planets visible simultaneously, a phenomenon that won’t happen again for another 15 years.

When and where to observe

The best time in the UK is on Friday 28th February 2025, shortly after sunset. The planets will stretch across the sky in a gentle arc from the western to the eastern horizon. Here’s a breakdown of where to look for each planet:

Mercury: Visible just above the western horizon. Due to its proximity to the Sun, it will set shortly after sunset, so it’s best to look for it as soon as the Sun dips below the horizon.

Venus: Located higher in the western sky, Venus shines brilliantly and is often the first “star” visible in the evening.

Mars: Look towards the eastern sky to spot Mars, identifiable by its distinct reddish hue.

Jupiter: Positioned high in the southern sky, Jupiter is the second-brightest planet in this lineup.

Saturn: Found low on the western horizon near Mercury. It sets relatively soon after sunset, so early observation is crucial.

Uranus and Neptune: These distant planets are located between Jupiter and Mars. They are not visible to the naked eye, so you’ll need to dig out a telescope, or strong binoculars to observe.

Tips for optimal viewing

Choose the right location. Find a location with minimal light pollution and an unobstructed view of the horizon. Rural areas or elevated spots away from city lights are ideal.

Arrive at your chosen spot before sunset to allow your eyes to adjust to the fading light. The window of opportunity to see all seven planets simultaneously is brief, especially for Mercury and Saturn, which set shortly after the Sun. There’s a high likelihood that loads of people will be heading for the same places, so plan ahead.

While Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can be seen with the naked eye, bringing binoculars or a telescope will enhance your viewing experience, especially for spotting Uranus and Neptune.

Clear skies are pretty essential for observing celestial events. So check local weather forecasts in advance, and if conditions aren’t favourable, consider travelling to a location with a better outlook.

Read more: Photos from deep space by NASA

Planet facts

Mercury: The smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. Despite its proximity to the Sun, it isn’t the hottest planet; that title belongs to Venus.

Venus: Known as Earth’s ‘sister planet’ due to its similar size and composition. However, its surface conditions are extreme, with temperatures hot enough to melt lead.

Mars: Often called the ‘Red Planet’ because of its reddish appearance, which is due to iron oxide (rust) on its surface.

Jupiter: The largest planet in our solar system, known for its Great Red Spot – a massive storm system larger than Earth.

Saturn: Famous for its stunning ring system, composed of ice particles, rocky debris, and dust.

Uranus: Unique among the planets for its tilted axis, which causes it to orbit the Sun on its side.

Neptune: The farthest known planet in our solar system, known for its deep blue colour caused by methane in its atmosphere.

If you’re heading out to the hills to stargaze, remember to dress warmly, and bring along some snacks and a hot (or warming!) drink. Happy gazing!

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Computer broken? Phone crashing? Conversation with friend not going well?

These things (and many more) are being chalked up to Mercury retrograde. But is the chaos associated with Mercury retrograde actually a real thing?

So here we go again, Mercury going retrograde. The solar system’s smallest planet will appear to move backwards – although it’s really not going backwards at all. It’s due to an optical illusion created by Mercury, Earth, and the Sun orbiting at different speeds. 

Every planet goes retrograde throughout the year, but the physical effect of Mercury’s retrograde on people is an increasingly well-noted phenomenon. And whether you believe in it or not, there’s been enough anecdotal evidence to fund scientific studies, dedicate websites, and publish articles. Even lofty tomes like Time magazine have been asking. Is there more to Mercury’s retrograde than just coincidence?

Let’s talk about communication

Astrology tells us that planets and astrological signs carry a distinctive energy that can be felt when they reach the positions they were in when we were born. This is your birth chart, and everyone’s is different. Astrological readings will tell you that the planets all bring their own energies into play.

You may have heard that Leo brings strength, and Mars brings action into our lives, for example. But what about Mercury, the so-called ruler of communication and technology? Which, despite moving through different astrological signs, will go retrograde at least three times every year. 

Facebook famously crashed during a retrograde in 2022

Millions of people report malfunctioning electrical appliances, delayed contracts, plans changing unexpectedly, and disagreements flaring up during the retrograde period. So much so that Mercury retrograde has become a scapegoat and slang word for misunderstandings and misfortune. 

Facebook famously crashed during a retrograde in 2022, and there’s enormous anecdotal evidence of commercial websites and apps suffering costly outages during retrograde periods. Can so many documented and undocumented occurrences like these be chalked up simply to coincidence?  

Why do we need to know? And what the hell can we do about it anyway?

Perhaps recent events have given us more pause for stargazing. Google reported that “What is Mercury retrograde” has been searched more times in 2022 than ever before. It seems we are searching for answers.

Perhaps recent events have given us more pause for stargazing

And we can see Mercury retrograde being taken seriously from a commercial standpoint too. Some of the FTSE’s top 250 businesses claim to highlight Mercury retrogrades in their team calendars. This is so that people can check their plans and make sure communications were received and interpreted in the way they were intended at these times. 

Regardless of whether the Mercury retrograde phenomenon is real or not, people want to understand their motivations and behaviours, their actions and emotions more than ever before. There’s a desire to understand what might be influencing personal choices, so we can affect a different outcome, even if that means considering the astrological influence of the planets and different energies.

Maybe there are greater forces at work

Maybe you dismiss the influence of Mercury retrograde on your life. Or maybe you totally believe it, and that ‘forewarned is forearmed’! But if you’re in the former group, you might want to ask what the planets are doing next time you lose important paperwork, or have a falling out with someone. 

We aren’t suggesting that you postpone a house move, or delay a wedding to avoid Mercury retrograde (although people probably do). But you might want to check whether Mercury is at rest or in transit before you start a new project, or buy something electrical.

How returning to the old ways can help us now

A final little word about this pretty planet

Mercury is one of our closest neighbours, and has been a fascinating mystery for centuries. Wild theories and gossip have circulated about Mercury, such as the claim that it struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Or that a collision on Mercury 4.5 billion years ago caused debris that led to the formation of the moon.

But these claims have been discounted by scientists. However, it remains a ‘planet of interest’. Because despite surface temperatures of 450 C, Mercury’s desert landscape also appears to contain water and ice; and for astrologers and non-astrologers worldwide, Mercury still holds a fascination.

To check Mercury’s action (and other astrological activities), check the Old Farmer’s Almanac

Josie Jakub

Josie writes from her cottage in a historic, pirate village by the sea. She shares her life with Mimi, a beautiful Ragdoll cat, and the dazzling variety of garden birds and sea birds who come to visit them every day. Josie writes about the world that we can’t see, drawing from her life experiences as a Tarot card reader, astrologist and healer

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