5 Planets Lined Up: Planet Parade In June 2022

People call it a “planet parade” (or “planetary parade”), a “planet line-up”, or “planets aligning” — astronomers usually use the more accurate term “planetary alignment.” It’s when several planets appear grouped along the ecliptic in the sky (as seen from Earth). Read this article to learn what planetary alignments really are and to check a calendar of the major planet parade dates. For the most accurate planet parade dates for your location — and a clear preview of how the planets will line up in your sky — use the Planet Walk feature in the free Star Walk 2 app.

Contents

• What is a planetary alignment?
  • Do the planets form a line in the sky during the planetary alignment?
  • Is a planetary alignment and a planet parade the same thing?
  • Types of planetary alignments in the Solar System
  • When two planets are close in the sky, what is it called?
• The upcoming planetary alignments
  • When will 5, 6, or 7 planets align in the sky?
  • The most anticipated planetary alignments
• What happens when the planets align?
  • Spiritual meaning of planetary alignments
• Next planet parade: April 2026 (morning sky)
• Planetary alignments: Frequently asked questions
  • When is the next planetary alignment?
  • How often do the planets align?
  • What is it called when all the planets align?
  • How to see the next alignment of planets?
  • When will all the planets align?
• Planet alignments: Conclusion

What is a planetary alignment?

Here are two common definitions of a planetary alignment:

1. An astronomical event when planets gather closely on one side of the Sun at the same time, as seen from above the Solar System.

Some people think the Solar System planets can form a straight line as viewed from the Sun. However, the planets cannot achieve full alignment in three dimensions. Even a looser grouping in one quadrant (a 90-degree sector) is extremely rare: all planets gather in one quadrant only 7 times in the current millennium.

2. A visual phenomenon when the planets appear close together in a small sky sector, as seen from the Earth.

When the Earth is one of the planets gathered on one side of the Sun, it appears to the observer that several planets are aligned in the sky. The smaller the sector in which the planets are seen, the more spectacular the alignment.

Don’t forget that alignments from the first definition aren’t always as striking as seen from the Earth. Even when all the planets gather within one quadrant in space, they may be scattered across the sky’s dome. Moreover, when the inner planets are close to the Earth-Sun line, we won't see them in the night sky.

Want a visual explanation? Look at our infographic to understand how planetary alignments work. You’ll learn how to spot them and what to expect from the upcoming "planet parade."

Planetary alignments explained with a clear infographic: a planetary alignment chart and planet parade map — plus common myths debunked.See Infographic

Do the planets form a line in the sky during the planetary alignment?

The planets do form a line, but it's not perfectly straight. All the planets orbit the Sun in almost the same plane. As a result, when viewing from Earth, the other planets appear to move along the ecliptic, the Sun’s yearly path across the sky.

You can see it yourself with the stargazing app Star Walk 2:

1. Open the app and go to the "Planets" section in the Menu.

2. Play the animation in the section. Do you see the yellow dotted line forming an arc? This is the ecliptic. The planets are grouped near this line.

3. Tap the Planet Walk button to see the planets on the sky map.

• In the animation, the ecliptic appears as an arc because it shows a wide view of the sky, from east to west.
• On the sky map, where only a smaller section of the sky is visible, the ecliptic appears as a straight line.

This is why, during a planetary alignment, the planets seem to form an almost straight line in the sky.

Is a planetary alignment and a planet parade the same thing?

"Planet parade" is not an official astronomical term, so it is used more loosely than the term "planetary alignment." Planetary alignments are colloquially called planet parades. Additionally, when multiple planets are visible together in one night, it can also be called a planet parade. In astrology, a planet parade occurs when several planets are located in the same zodiac constellation.

Types of planetary alignments in the Solar System

The following types of planetary alignments are distinguished according to the number of participating planets:

• Mini planetary alignment – 3 planets.
• Small planetary alignment – 4 planets.
• Large planetary alignment – 5 or 6 planets.
• Great (full) planetary alignment – all Solar System planets (+ Pluto sometimes).

When two planets are close in the sky, what is it called?

When two planets appear very close together, it’s usually called a conjunction (or a close approach). Conjunctions often happen around planetary alignments, so it’s normal to see a “planet parade” and a few close pairs in the same week. See upcoming conjunction dates in our planet conjunction calendar.

The upcoming planetary alignments

Here’s a quick calendar of upcoming planetary alignments. Dates below are best global dates (your best local date can be a few days earlier or later).

Date (2026)	Type	Planets	Best time (general)
Apr 18	Small (4 planets)	Saturn, Mars, Mercury, Neptune	Morning
Jun 12	Mini (3 planets)	Mercury, Jupiter, Venus	Evening
Aug 12	Large (6 planets)	Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune	Morning
Nov 14	Small (4 planets)	Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter	Morning

Not all parts of the world have the same view of planetary alignments. Due to the position of the ecliptic on the celestial sphere, certain planets may not be visible from where you live. Therefore, please keep in mind that the following list of planetary alignments is a general overview. The listed dates indicate when the planets can be clearly seen from most locations worldwide. If you miss this precise date, don't worry — the alignment is typically visible for a few days before and after the given date.

Here are the upcoming planetary alignments that will occur in 2026:

• April 18, 2026: a small morning alignment of Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and Neptune.
• June 12, 2026: a mini evening alignment of Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus.
• August 12, 2026: a large morning alignment of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune.
• November 14, 2026: a small morning alignment of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.

To check if a specific planetary alignment is entirely visible from your location, use the Star Walk 2 app. Open the "Planets" section in the Menu and tap "☆ Best nights to see planets". You’ll find a list of date ranges when several planets align in your sky. The date in the middle marks when planets align in the smallest sector of the sky in your location. Tap any alignment to jump to that date.

You'll see key details like planets’ rise and set times, brightness, and night duration (when the Sun is below the horizon).

Use the animated scheme to watch how the planets move across the sky on that date and pick the best time for viewing.

When will 5, 6, or 7 planets align in the sky?

Here is the list of the next planetary alignments that feature 5 to 7 planets:

• August 12, 2026: a large morning alignment of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune.
• July 2, 2027: a large morning alignment of Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

The most anticipated planetary alignments

Here are some planetary alignments discussed in the media. They are noteworthy because they feature many planets that are grouped closely together. However, most of them won’t happen anytime soon, so don't hold your breath.

On September 8, 2040, five naked-eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) will align in the sky. The crescent Moon will also be visible, positioned between Venus and Saturn. The best time for observations will be around 19:30 local time.

On March 15, 2080, six planets – Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Uranus – will be visible in the morning sky. This alignment is especially remarkable because it will feature the "great conjunction" of Saturn and Jupiter, which will be only six arcminutes apart.

On May 19, 2161, all Solar System planets, including the Earth, will gather on one side of the Sun. The planetary alignment will be seen just before dawn.

On November 7, 2176, all Solar System planets, including the Earth, will gather on one side of the Sun. The planetary alignment will be seen in the Earth’s sky just after sunset.

On May 6, 2492, all Solar System planets, including the Earth, will gather on one side of the Sun. In the Earth’s sky, the planetary alignment will be seen just after sunset.

What happens when the planets align?

Some people, especially on social media, falsely claim that alignments can cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and other global disasters due to the gravitational forces of other planets. This nonsense has been repeatedly debunked. In reality, alignments do not affect gravity or human life, but they are cool astronomical events.

Such speculations are based on the fact that not everyone understands how planetary alignments work. When planets align in the sky from the Earth’s point of view, it doesn’t mean they form a straight line in space. On this chart, you can see how planets will actually be positioned in the Solar System during a small planetary alignment on April 18, 2026.

Even when several planets do line up roughly on one side of the Sun (if we look from above the Solar System’s plane), this rare event — called a syzygy — is completely harmless. It has happened many times throughout history without causing trouble.

Only two objects in our Solar System have a noticeable effect on Earth's gravity: the Moon and the Sun. Twice each month, when the Earth, Moon, and Sun line up during new or full Moon phases, their combined gravity creates exceptionally high tides.

Some people mistakenly think that if a line-up of only three objects causes higher tides, then the alignment of all planets means a tremendous gravitational impact on Earth. However, it is not the number of objects that matters, but their proximity and mass. The Moon’s gravity affects Earth because it’s very close, and the Sun affects us because it’s extremely massive (about 1,000 times bigger than the largest planet, Jupiter). Meanwhile, planets in our system are too far apart to strongly affect each other with gravity.

Spiritual meaning of planetary alignments

Some people believe that planets can influence their lives. For instance, Mercury impacts communication and thinking, Venus — relationships and love, and Uranus represents change, innovations, and rebellion.

Alignments of several planets are often described as events that "enhance the flow of cosmic energy on Earth" and "offer a unique opportunity to tap into the energy of the cosmos, empowering personal growth and transformations".

However, there is no scientific proof that planetary alignments influence our bodies, behavior, or destiny. If you feel energized or inspired to take up a new hobby, that's great — just remember that it's not controlled by the planets.

Next planet parade: April 2026 (morning sky)

The next planet parade will take place around April 18, 2026. You’ll be able to spot Saturn, Mercury, and Mars with the naked eye before sunrise, while Neptune will be a bonus target for binoculars or a small telescope.

Want a step-by-step guide with the best viewing time for major cities? Check our article about the planet parade in April 2026. And if you want the best viewing time for your exact location, open Star Walk 2 and go to “Planets” to preview the alignment and plan your observations.

Planetary alignments: Frequently asked questions

When is the next planetary alignment?

The next planetary alignment occurs around April 18, 2026 in the morning sky, featuring Saturn, Mercury, Mars, and Neptune. For local dates, times, and viewing directions, see our April 18, 2026 planet parade observing guide.

How often do the planets align?

Small alignments (3–4 planets visible in the same part of the sky) happen fairly often. Large “planet parades” with 5–6 planets are rarer and typically occur every few years, and visibility depends on where you are on Earth.

What is it called when all the planets align?

When all Solar System planets align, it’s called a "great" or "full" planetary alignment. However, the planets can’t be in a straight line in space, so during the alignment, they just gather closely on one side of the Sun.

How to see the next alignment of planets?

Planetary alignments are quite easy to observe, with just a few essential tips to keep in mind:

• The alignments featuring Mercury can be viewed just after sunset or before dawn, depending on the date.
• Use a pair of binoculars when trying to spot Uranus and Neptune.
• For the inner planets, the best viewing conditions occur near their greatest elongations, and for the outer planets – around their oppositions.

Use the app Star Walk 2 to find all the planets in the sky above you and learn their visibility conditions.

When will all the planets align?

The planets of our Solar System never form a perfectly straight line in space, because their orbits aren't on the same plane. But sometimes, the planets gather closely on one side of the Sun and appear together in the sky. At the next great (full) planetary alignment on February 3, 2034, the seven planets — Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn — will be observable in the sky simultaneously.

Planet alignments: Conclusion

A planetary alignment (also called a “planet parade”) is a term used in astronomy to describe the event when several planets gather in a small sky area. The next widely visible planet alignment is around April 18, 2026. Four planets — Saturn, Mercury, Mars, and Neptune — will align *in the morning sky. Download the free stargazing app Star Walk 2 to spot all the planets easily.

Still got questions? Check out our reel explaining how planetary alignments work. Follow us on social media for more exciting videos!