Jupiter remains one of the best planets to see in the night sky in February 2026, but this month is also our best chance to see Mercury for a while.
Greatest eastern elongation, when Mercury is furthest from the Sun in the evening sky, occurs on the evening of 19 February.
The evening before that, 18 February, a thin crescent Moon sits between Mercury and Venus, Mercury setting 1 hour and 45 minutes after sunset.
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The Moon is to the east of Mercury on 19 February, both are well placed 30 minutes after sunset.
Find out more in our guide to observing Mercury in February 2026.
Now let's take a look at what the rest of the planets are doing in February.
Mercury
- Best time to see: 19 February, from 30 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 11°
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: West-southwest
- Features: Phase, subtle surface features through larger scopes
- Recommended equipment: 100mm or larger
Venus
- Best time to see: 28 February, 30 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 5° (low)
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: West
Venus is an improving evening planet. At the start of February mag. –3.8 Venus sets 30 minutes after sunset, but by the end of the month this will have increased to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
A thin 1%-lit Moon sits between Mercury and Venus on 18 February. On 28 February, Venus and Mercury will be in conjunction, although Mercury will be dim.
Mars
Too close to the Sun to be seen.
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 1 February, 22:48 UT
- Altitude: 60°
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: South
Extremely well placed, reaching its highest position, when due south, under true darkness all month.
Located in Gemini, close to the star Wasat (Delta (δ) Geminorum), Jupiter is close to its optimum position for UK viewing at around 60°, well above any turbulence. Jupiter is currently approaching equinox, enabling views of interactions between the planet’s disc and the outer Galilean moon Callisto (see pages 44–45 for details).
Saturn
- Best time to see: 1 February, 18:40 UT
- Altitude: 21°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: Southwest
Saturn’s observing window rapidly closes this month. On 1 February, it’s still possible to observe against dark skies, 21° above the southwest horizon. But the inevitable westward drift of the sky with each passing day, coupled with the expansion of evening twilight, means Saturn can’t be seen under dark-sky conditions by month’s end.
On 19 February, a 5%-lit waxing Moon sits 4.1° to the northwest of mag. +1.1 Saturn. On this date, Saturn is also just 50 arcminutes from Neptune. Catch the pair early enough and you’ll see Mercury and Venus in the vicinity too, the latter pair appearing a little closer to the Sun. At 19:10 UT on 19 February, you may just about catch Neptune using binoculars, the Moon, Saturn and Neptune being around 9° up at this time.
Uranus
- Best time to see: 1 February, 19:05 UT
- Altitude: 56°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: South
Currently 5° south of the Pleiades, Uranus remains in a good position all month, although it begins to drop altitude as darkness falls towards the end of February.
A 43%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits 4.9° north of mag. +5.7 Uranus on 23 February.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 19 February, 19:10 UT
- Altitude: 9° (low)
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: Slightly west of south
An evening planet close to Saturn, the observing window closes on Neptune this month. There’s a close encounter with Saturn and a 5%-lit waxing crescent Moon on the evening of 19 February.
Share your planetary observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
