When we have five or more planets filing into a small sky area, an alignment is upgraded to parade status. Parade is not an official astronomical term and is used fast, loose and with a touch more whimsy than space experts usually allow for.

Seven planets are on display in the night sky at the end of February, but some will be harder to spot than others. Here’s what you need to know to catch a glimpse.

The planets are aligning this week for a celestial event that will be seen around the globe. Seven planets will line up for a so-called "planet parade" on Friday, Feb. 28, as Mercury lines up with Mars,