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 where they are close. The term "planetary parade" is more accurate in this respect. You might see some adjacent like in 2024, Venus and Jupiter were neck and neck and in January of 2025, Venus and Saturn came within two degrees but most of the observable planets are stretched out across the sky. Nevertheless, with the right perspective, it may be possible to see several without having to turn your head.

Even better, it is not necessary to wait until an "alignment" to often 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). Uranus and Neptune (the furthest planets) typically require binoculars or a telescope to view and Mercury being the closest to the sun, usually requires this as well.