Read our February sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Perseus appears at the zenith at sunset, circling towards the west during the night and ending up in the north at sunrise. Best views will be at the beginning of the night when it is at its highest point. Most of the stars in Perseus are circumpolar.
Cetus, the Whale, can be seen in the south western sky just after sunset. It then begins to move lower to set in the west in the early hours of the morning at the beginning of the month, but about 21:30 GMT by the end of it. Cetus appears lower each day, so best views will be at the beginning of the month.
Gemini, the Twins, appears in the south eastern sky this month. At sunset, it appears due east at the beginning of the month, moving slightly south each night. During the night, it circles round the zenith towards the south western sky, where it sets just before dawn.
Planets
Mercury will be visible on the western horizon mid month, but difficult to observe as it lies very low. It will only be visible for a short time after sunset, before setting a little later. Mercury reaches its highest altitude on the 20th. It will be at perihelion, greatest elongation east and dichotomy on the 19th, but its occultation on the 18th, and conjunction with Venus on the 26th will both be unobservable.
Venus will be difficult to see this month because it is very close to the Sun. It appears on the western horizon during sunset, but sets before darkness arrives. However its brightness may still allow it to be seen just before sunset. Venus will be in conjunction with Mercury on the 26th, but this will be unobservable.
Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Jupiter appears in the south east at sunset, moving across the sky during the night. It will reach its highest point around 22:30 GMT at the beginning of the month, but this moves earlier to around 21:00 GMT by the end of the month. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 27th.
Saturn appears in the south west at sunset and sets shortly after. It will appear lower and closer to the Sun each night, and by the end of the month will be extremely low on the horizon and difficult to see. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 20th, but its conjunction with Neptune on the 16th will be unobservable.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears in the south, close to the Pleiades, at sunset, moving towards the west during the course of the night, setting in the early hours of the morning. Uranus ends retrograde motion on the 4th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It sticks very close to Saturn, following its same pattern in the sky. Neptune will be in conjunction with Saturn on the 16th, but this will be unobservable.
Moon
Full Moon: 1st
Last Quarter: 9th
New Moon: 17th
First Quarter: 24th
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 24th and apogee, its furthest point on the 10th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 3rd and perihelion, its closest point, on the 15th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will make a close approach with the Beehive Cluster (M44) on the 1st and the 28th in the constellation of Cancer.
The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 24th in the constellation of Taurus.
Points of Interest
Bode’s Galaxy (M81) will be well placed for observation on the 19th. Lying in the constellation of Ursa Major, it will reach its highest point around midnight and stay high above the horizon all night.
Asteroid 7 Iris will be at opposition on the 27th. Lying in the constellation of Sextans, it is visible between 20:30 and 03:35 GMT and reaches its highest point around midnight.
Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.
Last updated: 12th January 2026.