February's 'rare planetary alignment' peaks tonight — here's what to look for in the planet parade

Bright star-like objects shine in the evening sky above a snowy road lined by trees on the left, as the glow of the setting sun lights up the horizon on the right of the image.

Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus and Mercury are staring in a "planetary parade" this week, but your ability to actually spot them will depend on preparation, equipment and, as always, a spot of luck with the weather.

Most of this week's naked-eye planetary action will take place low in the western sky, which is where the aforementioned preparation comes in. Be sure to stake out a raised location with a clear view of the horizon well ahead of time — you can use a smartphone stargazing app to figure out exactly where the planets will be in your local environment, so there's no need to guess.