What's happening in the night sky in February?
What’s happening in the night sky this February 2025? The Old Farmer’s Almanac—your calendar of the heavens since 1792—has your skywatching tips. Astronomer Bob Berman highlights only the best sights that you can easily see without special equipment.
February Planet Party
Venus, our neighboring planet, dazzles at an incredible magnitude of -4.8, enough to cast shadows on Earth! It shines alone as a solitary beacon in the western sky with a bright white light.
On the opposite side of the sky, Mars blazes at -1, while Sirius and Jupiter dazzle at -2. This celestial eye candy continues all month, with Mars slightly fading to magnitude 0 as it stands stationary in Gemini.
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February 1: Venus and the Moon
On the 1st, Venus will be very near the 13 percent-lit waxing crescent Moon. The planet is just 2.3 degrees to the Moon’s right. Start looking at sunset.
February 5 to 6: The Moon Occults the Pleiades
The Quarter Moon will blot out the stars of Pleiades, also called the Seven Sisters. This will occur around 11:15 PM Pacific Time, and 12:15 AM Mountain Time. It will likely be too low or below the horizon for those in Central or Eastern Time.
February 12: The Full Snow Moon
Known as the Snow Moon, the full Moon will reach peak illumination at 8:53 A.M. EST on Wednesday, February 12. It will be below the horizon at this time, so for the best view, look for it starting the night before or later on Wednesday. The Moon will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight.
February 16: Venus at its brightest for 2025!
This month, Venus shines at her brightest for the year near Valentine’s Day. How fitting for the goddess of love!
Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy for the year—at magnitude -4.6—on February 16. At night, only the Moon outshines her. Look west during the twilight hours. Nothing else compares.
Take the time to truly admire Venus, as she won’t appear this bright again until April 2025 (and that’s before sunrise).
February 24: Mercury and Saturn
In the bright evening twilight, Mercury and Saturn meet very low in the west—a treat for those with an unobstructed view of the horizon. First, look for super-bright Venus (you can’t miss her). Then, look directly below and much closer to the western horizon. If you see a very faint object, this is Mercury. Look to Mercury’s upper left, and you’ll find Saturn. On the following evening (the 25th), Saturn will appear to Mercury’s lower left. After that, Saturn will disappear in the sunset glare
February 28: New Moon
When the dark skies lack moonlight, it’s the perfect time to observe the stars and constellations in the sky. Learn more about the magic of the New Moon.
February Stargazing Highlights
Opposite the sky from Venus, extraordinary celestial brightness fills the east at nightfall.
- Betelgeuse, Castor, Pollux, and Aldebaran shine at magnitude 1.
- Meanwhile, the stars Procyon, Rigel, and Capella—surrounding Orion—boast a magnitude 0.
Orion the Hunter
The brighter constellation in the night sky is Orion the Hunter, who reigns over the winter sky. Look first for that bright belt of three stars. The hunter’s shoulder is marked by its bright red star, Betelgeuse, and its knee is marked by a blue-white star, Rigel.
See our February Sky Map to navigate to the constellation Orion.
Follow the belt of Orion down and left to find blue-white Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius lies in the constellation Canis Major, the Great Dog and companion to Orion. See tips on finding Sirius, the brightest star in the February sky.
Use Orion’s three Belt stars to point northwest to the red star Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster, then to the Pleiades star cluster.
Then, travel southeast from the Belt stars to the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius. Above and left of Sirius is another bright star, a yellowish giant named Procyon. Procyon is part of the constellation Canis Minor, the smaller dog and Orion’s second companion. Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse form a geometrical pattern called the Winter Triangle.
The Big Dipper
This is also a good time to view the Big Dipper far above the northeast horizon. It will climb upward during the evening hours to reach its high point for the night around midnight. Draw a line from its two end bowl stars upwards to the Polaris, the North Star. See tips on finding the Big Dipper and the North Star.
Bob Berman
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Venus grabbed my attention driving home in AZ on Feb 1st. She was quite bright & beautiful at about 4:00 of the moon’s position.
Great info, thank you
Why does Catherine get a byline?????
I caught Venus and Jupiter around 6:45/7:00 on February 28th I have always enjoyed gazing at the stars, moon and the occasional planet!
just curious; would the North Star Polaris be in the same spot night after night; month after month?
Yes! Polaris always stays in roughly the same place in the sky. It would appear directly overhead if you stood at the north pole, but farther south, it indicated the direction of north.
I can find the North Star via the Big Dipper; really interesting; thanks!!!
Love this!
