See a 7-planet Parade, the Snow Moon, a Very Brilliant Venus, and Extra within the Evening Sky This February

This month’s stargazing agenda brims with planet sightings. We’ve 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 without delay.

You may take pleasure in February’s stargazing from a dark-sky escape and even at house or a neighborhood park. Lots of the planets are brilliant sufficient to identify by means of gentle air pollution, and with the unaided eye, though a pair of stargazing binoculars or a telescope — or higher but, entry to an observatory — will show you how 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 could 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 slightly below. The moon and Venus will journey in tandem towards the western horizon, setting a couple of hours after the solar, in keeping with Stellarium.

Feb. 6: The Moon Meets Jupiter

The moon is making its rounds this month, with an in depth strategy to Jupiter on the night of Feb. 6. The duo might 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 properly.

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 Crimson 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 yr: the complete snow moon. This month’s lunar marvel is called for February’s frigid temperatures and usually heavy snow. The moon might be at its fullest on Feb. 12 at 8:53 a.m. ET, in keeping with Astronomy.com. Look ahead to it within the night hours of Feb. 11 and 12, when it’s close to the horizon. Because of the moon phantasm, it seems larger 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

If you happen to’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic night time of stargazing, search for Venus. Our photo voltaic system’s brightest planet might be much more vivid than normal. Based on EarthSky, it’s going to 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 might be till September 2026 — you possibly can nonetheless benefit from the planet’s luminosity within the days that observe.

Feb. 28: A Seven-Planet Parade

Information in regards to 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 might be up within the night time sky without delay — albeit briefly. Mercury, which was absent from January’s parade will be a part of the enjoyable. That stated, 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. Observe 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.