A Planetary Alignment will coincide with Mercury Retrograde

Double phenomena in the heavens

Some people say in jest that the planets have aligned in their favor when life works the way they desire. Were you aware that there are seasons when things do line up in the heavens? There will be a planetary alignment AKA a planet parade, on February 28, 2026.

This will coincide with Mercury Retrograde, which begins on the 26th of the month and gives the illusion that the planet closest to the sun is moving backward.

The parade of planets will appear from low in the West to high in the East. From the earthly perspective, multiple heavenly bodies will appear close together or seem as if they are in a straight line in the night sky.

This visual phenomenon will only be an illusion because the planets will not form a straight line in space. Each one has a slightly different orbital tilt and distance from the Sun, making a perfect three-dimensional alignment impossible.

Will the Earth be affected when the planets align?

The last time the planets alligned was April 19, 2024. Here is what to expect in a few days. Shortly after sunset, on February 28, there will be a six-planet alignment (excluding Earth). Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye, but Neptune and Uranus will require telescopes.

Scientists confirm that these alignments will have no significant physical impact on Earth. The gravitational forces from the other planets are not strong enough to cause volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal changes, continental drift, or tectonic shifts.

Some people say that Mercury Retrograde causes problems with their electronics and or their love lives. There is a theory that past loves return into your life during these episodes. My daughter and her older brother have had exes reach out to them during the Retrograde.

The Old Farmer's Almanac and Mercury Retrograde

Both my daughter and I have had issues with cell phones and computers when we were not aware that Retrograde was in action. We would joke that Mercury must be headed backward again, and when we checked, we found that Retrograde was in motion. Will the two shifts in the heavens cause double chaos?

The Old Farmer's Almanac concurs that Mercury Retrograde may affect individuals and lists possible effects based on their Zodiac signs, but is this credible information or folklore?

The Earth and its occupants should not be affected

Scientifically, there is no evidence that Retrogrades wreak havoc on humans, but those who say they have been victims don't agree. Scientists also say there is no immediate or measurable change in Earth's atmosphere during a planetary alignment.

Only the Sun and Moon are in close enough proximity to affect Earth's environment through solar radiation or the tide. Neither our air pressure, weather, nor oxygen levels are affected because the planets are millions of miles away.

Our atmosphere is held in place by Earth’s own gravity and protected by its magnetic field. The positions of distant planets like Mars or Jupiter do not influence Earth.

An atmospheric change

The only real "change" involves how we view the atmosphere. When planets are low on the horizon during an alignment, their light must pass through more of Earth's dense lower atmosphere. This can cause them to appear dimmer or change color due to atmospheric scattering.

Save the dates and prepare yourselves just in case things begin going wonkyon the 26th. Make sure you look up at the evening sky on the 28th to see the planets appear as if they are alligned.