The "planet parade" an hour after sunset on Feb. 27, 2025. Uranus and Neptune are not visible to the ... [+] naked eye.StellariumIf you havent heard, all the planets are in the sky at the same time. The incorrect phrase planetary alignment is being used across the media, with plenty of terrible advice about where to go to see all seven other planets. Misconceptions are spreading almost as fast as the excitement for what is a really simple, beautiful event.It's enough to make a stargazer like me wince because what should be an opportunity to enjoy the night sky is leaving people disappointed after being misinformed by media that appears not to do the most basic research.Here are three myths about the rare appearance of the planets in the night sky and how to set your expectations to get the most out of this rare opportunity.Myth 1: There Is A Planetary AlignmentOne of the most common misconceptions is that all seven planets Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn are perfectly lined up in space in a planetary alignment.If the planets were perfectly aligned, they would all be in a straight line before us. Cue the artistic depictions of the planets forming a neat, evenly spaced row as if beads on an invisible cosmic string. Think about what it would look like from Earth inner planets Venus and Mercury would appear on one side of the sky, and the rest would appear on the other in one great big point of light. That is not happening!What is occurring is a planet parade, in which the planets are spread out, not randomly across the night sky, but along the ecliptic, as they always are. The ecliptic is the plane of the solar system. Picture the solar system like a perfectly cooked fried egg, with the yolk as the sun. All the planets, including Earth, orbit in a circle in the egg white.Since the solar system's plane is flat, the ecliptic is the same as the sun's path through our daytime sky. Planets never appear randomly across the sky but always somewhere on the ecliptic.All that's happening right now is that all the planets are visible from the night side of Earth, though, in reality, only for a short time after sunset since that's the only time you'll ever see Venus and Mercury (because they happen to be on the same side of the solar system as Earth).So what should you expect? The planets will stretch across the sky in a broad arc rather than forming a precise, straight row. There is no "planetary alignment" just look at a live view of the solar system today for proof.Myth 2: You Need to Escape Light Pollution to See the PlanetsAvoiding city lights is crucial when it comes to deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. But planets? They shine brightly enough to punch through even moderate light pollution. Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, in particular, are some of the brightest objects in the night sky, while Saturn and Mercury are also relatively easy to see (although both are very close to the horizon right now).So, you dont need to travel to a remote mountaintop or national park to enjoy the planetary display your backyard or a nearby park will do just fine. An open-wide view is way more important than a dark sky. With the tricky targets in the west, a west-facing beach is a good idea. However, if you want to see some bright planets stretching across the evening sky, you do not need to venture far from home.Myth 3: You Can See All Seven Planets With the Naked EyeWhile its tempting to claim that all seven planets are visible at once, in practice, youll likely only see three Venus, Jupiter and Mars with the naked eye. Venus is shining brightly in the west, while Jupiter and Mars are high above.Mercury and Saturn sit very low on the horizon and, while technically visible, will likely be lost in the haze and twilight glow before long.As for Neptune and Uranus, these distant ice giants are in the night sky the former near Venus and the latter close to Jupiter but they're too faint for the naked eye. Both require a telescope and, honestly, don't look much at all, even with a lot of magnification.How To Really Get The Best Views of The Planet ParadeHere are my tips to get the best from the planetary parade before its gone and you've only got a week or so before Venus, the undoubted "star" of the show, drops into the sun's glare.Get your timing right: be outside in twilight before Venus dips below the horizon.Look westward: Venus is the easiest to find, shining brilliantly in the west after sunset. Mercury and Saturn will be underneath it, close to where the sun recently set, but they will be tricky to spot (because they're both very dim and may be blocked by trees or buildings).Look up for Mars and Jupiter: High in the sky, these planets are unmistakable. Jupiter is a bright white beacon, while Mars has a distinctive reddish hue. They're among the very brightest winter stars, above the constellation Orion, in Taurus and Gemini, respectively.Set expectations: While not every planet will be easily visible, the chance to see multiple worlds likely three in one sitting is a relatively rare and rewarding experience.So head outside just after dark, be patient, and enjoy the view of the planets, our close neighbors, in front of the stars behind them, which are many light-years distant.Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.