Overview
- NASA and the Royal Observatory point to February 28 shortly after sunset as the technical peak when Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Jupiter sit above the western sky.
- The prime viewing window is 30–45 minutes after sunset facing west-southwest, with a flat, unobstructed horizon improving the odds.
- Mercury reaches greatest elongation on February 19–20, making this weekend the best practical chance to see it before it dims and sinks into twilight.
- Jupiter remains the easiest target high in the evening sky, Venus appears briefly low after sunset, Saturn and Uranus may need binoculars, and Neptune requires a telescope.
- Expectations are being tempered as low altitude, bright twilight, and local skylines make seeing all six unlikely for casual observers.