This month’s stargazing agenda brims with planet sightings. We have planet pairings, moon-planet hangouts, and a special treat to end February: several nights with all seven of our space neighbours up in the sky at once.
You can enjoy February’s stargazing from a dark-sky escape or even at home or a local park. Many of the planets are bright enough to spot through the light pollution, and with the unaided eye, although a pair of stargazing binoculars or a telescope — or better yet, access to an observatory — will help you get even closer to our interstellar neighbours.
Northern lights season also continues this month.
Ready to get planet-watching? Here’s what to see in February’s night sky
February 1: The Moon Joins Venus and Saturn
Look to the southwest sky after sunset on Saturday, as the sliver of a waxing crescent moon nears bright Venus with Saturn just below. The moon and Venus will travel in tandem toward the western horizon, setting a few hours after the sun, according to Stellarium.
February 6: The Moon Meets Jupiter
The moon is making its rounds this month, with a close approach to Jupiter on the evening of Feb. 6. The duo will be visible in the southern sky after sunset; you can watch them tango for the majority of the night until they set in the pre-dawn hours. Don’t miss orange-tinged Mars hanging near the pair as well.
February 9: A Mars-Moon Pairing
On February 9, the moon will continue its planet hangouts with a stop by Mars in the southwest sky. This 90-percent-illuminated waxing gibbous moon will shine close to the Red Planet all night, setting just before the sun rises on February 10.
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February 12: Full Snow Moon
Come February 12, we’ll see the second full moon of the year: the full snow moon. This month’s lunar marvel is named for February’s frigid temperatures and typically heavy snow. The moon will be at its fullest on February 12 at 8:53 am ET, according to Astronomy.com. Watch for it in the evening hours of February 11 and 12, when it’s near the horizon. Due to the moon illusion, it appears bigger and brighter — and therefore more photogenic — when it’s just above the horizon versus high in the sky, says NASA.
February 14: See Venus at its Brightest
If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic night of stargazing, look for Venus. Our solar system’s brightest planet will be even more vivid than usual. According to EarthSky, it will reach its peak brilliance on February 14 at 9 am ET; watch for it in the evening after sunset as it follows Saturn to the western horizon. While February 14 is the night not to miss — it’s the brightest Venus will be until September 2026 — you can still enjoy the planet’s luminosity in the days that follow.
February 28: A Seven-Planet Parade
News about the 2025 planet parade topped the headlines in January, and there’s another can’t-miss planet gathering gracing our skies late this month. On February 28, and a few nights before and after this evening, all seven other planets will be up in the night sky at once — albeit briefly. Mercury, which was absent from January’s parade will join the fun. That said, it’s tricky to spot Mercury given its close distance to the sun. Look for it, as well as Saturn, just above the western horizon after sunset. The pair will set soon after the sun, so find a viewpoint with open vistas to the west horizon. Follow the arc up and to the left of Mercury and Saturn to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars. Neptune and Uranus are both out this night, too, but you’ll need a telescope to spot them.
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Feature Image Credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Related: 10 Best Places To Go Stargazing Around The World
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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