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This month’s stargazing agenda brims with planet sightings. We now have planet pairings, moon-planet hangouts, and a particular deal with to finish the month: a number of evenings with all seven of our house neighbors up within the sky directly.
You possibly can take pleasure in February’s stargazing from a dark-sky escape and even at dwelling or a neighborhood park. Lots of the planets are brilliant sufficient to identify by way of mild air pollution, and with the unaided eye, though a pair of stargazing binoculars or a telescope — or higher but, entry to an observatory — will allow you to get even nearer to our interstellar neighbors.
Northern lights season additionally continues this month, and whereas we will’t predict precisely when these lights might dance, our aurora-hunting information will assist make sure you catch them.
Able to get planet-watching? Right here’s what to see within the night time sky this month.
Feb. 1: The Moon Joins Venus and Saturn
Look to the southwest sky after sundown on Saturday, because the sliver of a waxing crescent moon nears brilliant Venus with Saturn just under. The moon and Venus will journey in tandem towards the western horizon, setting a number of hours after the solar, in response to Stellarium.
Feb. 6: The Moon Meets Jupiter
The moon is making its rounds this month, with a detailed strategy to Jupiter on the night of Feb. 6. The duo can be seen within the southern sky after sundown; you possibly can watch them tango for almost all of the night time till they set within the pre-dawn hours. Don’t miss orange-tinged Mars hanging close to the pair as nicely.
Feb. 9: A Mars-Moon Pairing
On Feb. 9, the moon will proceed its planet hangouts with a cease by Mars within the southwest sky. This 90-percent-illuminated waxing gibbous moon will shine near the Pink Planet all night time, setting simply earlier than the solar rises on Feb. 10.
Feb. 12: Full Snow Moon
Come Feb. 12, we’ll see the second full moon of the 12 months: the complete snow moon. This month’s lunar marvel is known as for February’s frigid temperatures and usually heavy snow. The moon can be at its fullest on Feb. 12 at 8:53 a.m. ET, in response to Astronomy.com. Look ahead to it within the night hours of Feb. 11 and 12, when it’s close to the horizon. As a result of moon phantasm, it seems greater and brighter — and subsequently extra photogenic — when it’s simply above the horizon versus excessive within the sky, says NASA.
Feb. 14: See Venus at its Brightest
For those who’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic night time of stargazing, search for Venus. Our photo voltaic system’s brightest planet can be much more vivid than standard. In keeping with EarthSky, it’ll attain its peak brilliance on Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. ET; look ahead to it within the night after sundown because it follows Saturn to the western horizon. Whereas Feb. 14 is the night time to not miss — it’s the brightest Venus can be till September 2026 — you possibly can nonetheless benefit from the planet’s luminosity within the days that comply with.
Feb. 28: A Seven-Planet Parade
Information concerning the 2025 planet parade topped the headlines in January, and there’s one other can’t-miss planet gathering gracing our skies late this month. On Feb. 28, and some nights earlier than and after this night, all seven different planets can be up within the night time sky directly — albeit briefly. Mercury, which was absent from January’s parade will be a part of the enjoyable. That mentioned, it’s tough to identify Mercury given its shut distance to the solar. Search for it, in addition to Saturn, simply above the western horizon after sundown. The pair will set quickly after the solar, so discover a viewpoint with open vistas to the west horizon. Comply with the arc up and to the left of Mercury and Saturn to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars. Neptune and Uranus are each out this night time, too, however you’ll want a telescope to identify them.
