Direct answer: Planet alignments (often called conjunctions or planet parades) happen irregularly and vary in scale. Small inner-planet alignments (two to four planets) occur relatively frequently, every few months to a couple of years, while large alignments involving five to seven planets are rare, typically occurring only a few times per century and at longer intervals for all eight planets. Details and guidance:

• What counts as an alignment vs a conjunction:
  • A conjunction or alignment is when planets appear close together in the sky from Earth’s perspective. This can involve several planets lining up within a wide but noticeable swath of the ecliptic. The events are observational alignments and have no physical gravitational coupling implications for the planets themselves. This distinction is often clarified in astronomy resources and planetarium discussions.

• Frequency by group:
  • Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) can show near-alignments relatively often, sometimes every few months to a year, because their orbital periods are shorter and their possible configurations repeat on shorter cycles.

* Mid-to-outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn) can align with each other or with some inner planets less often, but when they do, the alignment tends to persist over several days due to their slower motion.

* Large multi-planet alignments (five to seven planets) are rare. Narratives about seven-planet alignments have appeared in recent years, but such events are uncommon and may not occur for many decades or centuries. Modern references describe these as notable but not physically consequential; they are primarily observational spectacles. Examples and summaries of upcoming large alignments exist in science communications and observatories.

• Notable exemplars and timelines:
  • Historical and predicted large alignments have been discussed for decades, with some well-publicized events highlighting five to seven planets within a small sky region. These events have occurred multiple times in the past across long timescales and are expected to repeat on long intervals in the future.

* Recent outreach has highlighted specific upcoming events featuring multiple planets in a single sky glance, such as multi-planet parades near late February 2025–2026 in various news and astronomy outlets. These are widely reported as spectacular but not physically impactful events.

• Practical observing tips (if you’re planning to watch):
  • Check local sunset times and find a dark, unobstructed view toward the western or southern horizon (depending on the planet positions for the date).
  • Use a planetarium app or astronomy site for the exact dates and sky bearings to locate each planet, as the lineup shifts with Earth’s rotation and the planets’ orbits.
  • A low-power binoculars or a small telescope can be helpful to resolve the brighter planets when they are grouped closely, though even naked-eye viewing is possible for prominent parades.

If you’d like, specify your location and a date window (e.g., the next 12 months), and the best current-watch times and sky coordinates for any notable alignments near you can be provided.