In this guide we'll reveal what you can see in the night sky tonight, and throughout the month.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky tonight, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight.
Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT.
We also use RA (Right ascension)and dec. (declination).
These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’.
For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
If you're south of the equator, find out what you can see in the Southern Hemisphere night sky tonight.
What's in the night sky tonight?
February astronomy highlights
- 3 February: An early morning gibbous Moon narrowly misses Regulus
- 11 February: Lunar occultation of Tau (τ) Scorpii
- 18 February: A thin waxing crescent Moon lies between Venus and Mercury
- 19 February: Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation (evening)
- 26 February: The Jewelled Handle clair-obscur effect is visible on the Moon
Orion
Orion reigns supreme during February, the iconic winter constellation riding high across the southern sky early evening.
Orion contains many characterful stars, the most famous of which has to be Betelgeuse (Alpha (α) Orionis, a red supergiant estimated to be around 1,000 times larger than our own Sun and a prime candidate to explode as a supernova sometime in the next 100,000 years.
When it does eventually pop, it’s estimated it’ll brighten enough to rival the brightness of the full Moon.
When it eventually fades, Orion will be irrevocably changed. On the plus side, we will have a new supernova remnant to observe!
Crab Nebula
One of the best supernova remnants in the winter night sky is the Crab Nebula, M1.
Located in Taurus, not far from the star Tianguan (Zeta (ζ) Tauri), it represents the aftermath of an explosion witnessed in 1054 AD – such a bright event that it was observed in daylight for 23 days.
Today, binoculars reveal the aftermath as a faint smudge of light, a small scope shows an oval smudge, and larger instruments reveal some tendrils of matter ejected when the original star exploded.
Jupiter
Next door to Taurus is Gemini, easy to find because bright Jupiter is sitting at its core.
Jupiter is well-placed for observing, with a superb Ganymede plus shadow transit occurring on the evening of 11 February; Ganymede between 18:52-22:16 UT, its shadow between 21:54-01:21 UT.
On 12 February, Callisto’s shadow transits Jupiter between 19:00-23:13 UT, Europa’s shadow also visible 17:35-20:29 UT; a double shadow transit occurring 19:00-20:29 UT.
A second opportunity to see Ganymede’s shadow transit occurs on 19 February, 01:54-05:21 UT.
Finally, on 21 February, Callisto is eclipsed by Jupiter’s shadow at 02:12 UT, reappearance occurring after Jupiter sets.
The Moon
The constellation of Gemini represents the twins Castor and Pollux, the ‘head’ stars named after them.
Just below mag. +1.2 Pollux (Beta (β) Geminorum) is mag. +3.6 Kappa (κ) Geminorum, representing Pollux’s arm.
On 27 February an 85%-lit waxing gibbous Moon occults this star, the second of two bright star lunar occultations in February.
The first occurs on 11 February, a 33%-lit waning crescent Moon occulting mag. +2.8 Tau (τ) Scorpii. Both events are binocular friendly.
Another interesting Moon-related event occurs on 18 February.
After sunset, look out for mag. -3.8 Venus and -0.5 Mercury in the evening twilight.
Slap bang between will be a thin 1%-lit waxing crescent Moon; a glorious sight on a crisp, clear February evening.
As this arrangement sets and the sky darkens, use binoculars to view Saturn.
In the 9 o’clock position from Saturn is a close pair of vertically arranged stars; mentally record the distance between Saturn and these stars.
Using a clock face guide, move the same distance from Saturn in the half-past-one direction.
The faint dot in this position is Neptune. On this evening both planets are just 51-arcminutes apart.
Talking of close calls, on 3 February, the almost full Moon passes close to Regulus (Alpha (α) Leonis) in the early hours.
At around 03:45 UT Regulus appears just 7-arcminutes from the Moon’s edge.
The Moon’s apparent diameter will be 32-arcminutes, giving you a guide for just how close this is.
Night sky in February 2026, night-by-night
Sunday 1 February
This evening and tomorrow evening, there’s an opportunity to spot the 177km libration-zone crater Gauss, located north and east of Mare Crisium.
Monday 2 February
Mag. –1.1 Mercury and –3.8 Venus appear just 1.7° apart this evening, but are tricky due to low altitude
Titan can be seen emerging from behind Saturn’s southern pole region at 19:02 UT.
Tuesday 3 February
At 03:45 UT, the 98%-lit waning gibbous Moon sits 0.4° south-southwest of mag. +1.3 Regulus. This places the star just 8 arcminutes from Moon’s edge!
Wednesday 4 February
Jupiter’s outer Galilean moon, Callisto, is occulted by Jupiter at 02:28 UT.
Ganymede and its shadow transit Jupiter this evening. Ganymede transits at 15:28–18:54 UT, its shadow at 17:55–21:23 UT.
Sunday 8 February
Ganymede is occulted by Jupiter’s disc at 05:00 UT.
Tuesday 10 February
Saturn’s tilt is now too large for Titan to appear to pass across the planet’s globe in a transit event. This evening around 20:00 UT, the moon can be seen immediately north of Saturn’s disc.
Thursday 12 February
Callisto’s shadow transits Jupiter between 19:00 and 23:13 UT. Europa and its shadow are in transit over this period too, Europa at 16:03–18:57 UT and its shadow at 17:35–20:30 UT.
Wednesday 18 February
A 1%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits mid-way between mag. –3.8 Venus and mag. –0.5 Mercury this evening.
Saturn and Neptune appear just 51 arcminutes apart this evening.
Thursday 19 February
This evening’s 5%-lit crescent Moon sits 4° northwest of mag. +0.7 Saturn.
Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation, separated from the Sun by 18.1°.
Ganymede’s shadow transits Jupiter between 01:54 and 05:21 UT, the event ending as Jupiter approaches setting.
Tuesday 24 February
As the 44%-lit waxing crescent Moon sets, a binocular view shows it heading ever closer to the Pleiades open cluster.
Wednesday 25 February
The lunar shadow effect known as Plato’s Hook can be seen on the late afternoon Moon at around 17:30 UT.
Thursday 26 February
Ganymede transits Jupiter from 01:52 UT, finishing as Jupiter sets around 05:15 UT.
The popular lunar Jewelled Handle clair-obscur effect is visible at around 22:30 UT.
Friday 27 February
The 78%-lit waxing gibbous Moon sits 3.8° north-northwest of mag. –2.3 Jupiter.
At around 21:40 UT, Kappa (κ) Geminorium is occulted by the Moon.
Share your observations and images with us, or send us your astronomy questions to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
