Do Planets Really Ever Align in the Sky?

Technically no, the planets do not follow a straight line; they follow an elliptical orbit that appears to us at times in a semi-ordered fashion. NASA does not officially recognize the term. Many people that observe these so called "planetary alignments" are disappointed to find that often the planets are not as close as the media makes it seem. Moreover, they may not even appear aligned in some cases where they are close. The terms "planetary parade" or "conjunction" are more accurate in this respect. You might see some adjacent like in January of 2025, Venus and Saturn came within a few degrees and in August 2025, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury all appeared relatively close together during the predawn hour but most of the observable planets are usually stretched out across the sky. Nevertheless, with the right perspective, it may be possible to see several without having to turn your head. Out of the corners of my eyes, I have seen up to 4 planets in a single event though a wide area lens may be able to capture more.

Even better, it is not necessary to wait until an "alignment" to see the planets. Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn can be viewed regularly throughout most of the year even with the naked eye especially when a planet like Jupiter or Mars is in opposition (opposite side of the sun from Earth). Neptune (the furthest planet) requires binoculars or a telescope to view while Uranus, though extremely faint, is possible to see without such aid. Mercury being the closest to the sun may be harder to spot due to the sun's glare but is not impossible to see without magnification. Never look at the sun with a telescope! All of which are of course much better through a telescopic lens but that is a different story.