A nearly new moon and mostly clear skies will present near ideal viewing conditions for the planet parade through Feb. 28.

Exciting February sky events include Venus at its brightest and closest to Earth, the moon occulting the Pleiades, and a parade of planets in the post-sunset sky.

A great alignment of all of Earth's planetary neighbors will soon take place in the night sky in a rare celestial show. The term "planetary alignment" is used to describe when several planets gather in a small area in the sky simultaneously,