What’s in the Sky Tonight: Celestial Events in February 2025
In February 2025, you can see a magnificent 7-planet alignment, Venus at maximum brightness, and other exciting astronomy events. To easily find out the name of any bright dot in the sky in real time, use the free Sky Tonight app. Let’s see what February has in store for us!
Contents
- All astronomical events in February 2025
- February Moon phases 2025
- Planets in February 2025
- February constellations
- 🌟 Astronomy with binoculars in February — Moon hides Pleiades on February 6
- Alpha Centaurids — the only February meteor shower
- Comets in February 2025
- What is visible in the night sky tonight from my location?
- Bottom line: night sky in February 2025
All astronomical events in February 2025
Please note that we provide the event dates in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). For your location, the exact dates may vary. To find out the time and date of the event for your city, use the Sky Tonight astronomy app.
- February 1: Lunar occultation of Saturn (mag 1.1; Moon passes 2°04' from Venus (mag -4.7), 1°15' from Neptune (mag 7.8).
- February 3: Venus (mag -4.8) passes 3°58' from Neptune (mag 7.9).
- February 4: Jupiter ends retrograde motion.
- February 5: First Quarter Moon; Moon passes 4°29' from Uranus (mag 5.7).
- February 6: Lunar occultation of Pleiades (mag 1.2). 🌟
- February 7: Moon passes 2° from Jupiter (mag -2.4).
- February 8: Alpha Centaurid meteor shower peak (ZHR = 6).
- February 9: Lunar occultation of Mars (mag -0.8) 🌟; Mercury at superior solar conjunction.
- February 10: Moon passes 2° from Pollux (mag 1.2).
- February 11: Moon passes 2°41' from the Beehive Cluster (mag 3.1).
- February 12: Full Moon. 🌟
- February 13: Moon passes 1°55' from Regulus (mag 1.4).
- February 16: Venus at greatest brightness (mag -4.9). 🌟
- February 17: Moon passes 0°18' from Spica (mag 1.2).
- February 20: Last Quarter Moon.
- February 21: Moon passes 0°25' from Antares (mag 1).
- February 24: Mars ends retrograde motion.
- February 25: Saturn (mag 1.1) passes 1°26' from Mercury (mag -1.2). 🌟
- February 28: 7-planet alignment 🌟; New Moon; Moon passes 1°17' from Saturn (mag 1.1).; Venus begins retrograde motion.
*The highlighted events are the outstanding events of the month.
About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.
February Moon phases 2025
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in February 2025:
- First Quarter: February 5, 08:02 GMT
- Full Moon: February 12, 13:53 GMT
- Last Quarter: February 20, 17:32 GMT
- New Moon: February 28, 00:45 GMT
🌟 Full Snow Moon on February 12
The February Full Moon, also known as the Snow Moon, will occur on February 12, at 13:53 GMT. This Full Moon gets its name from the heavy snowfalls typical of February in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the Snow Moon will appear in the constellation Leo, shining near its brightest star, Regulus.
By the way, the February Full Moon is the last "regular-sized" Full Moon until June. In the coming months, we'll get three Micromoons in a row! Get the full list of Full Moons, Micromoons, and Supermoons 2025 in our colorful infographic.
Planets in February 2025
Northern Hemisphere
Mercury (Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, mag -1.5): reaches superior solar conjunction on February 9 and begins to appear in the western evening sky near the horizon by the end of the month.
Venus (Pisces, mag -4.8): bright and prominent in the southwestern sky after sunset. On February 28, Venus shifts from direct to retrograde motion.
Mars (Gemini, mag -0.7): visible all night in early and mid-February. By late February, it will shine brightly in the evening and nighttime sky.
Jupiter (Taurus, mag -2.4): easily visible in the evening and nighttime sky in Taurus, gradually moving closer to the Sun as the month progresses.
Saturn (Aquarius, mag 1.1): visible for no more than an hour low on the southwestern horizon after sunset. Gradually gets closer to the Sun, making it harder to spot later in the month.
Uranus (Aries, mag 5.7): visible in the evening and nighttime sky with a pair of binoculars.
Neptune (Pisces, mag 7.9): low in the southwestern evening sky in Pisces, near the star Lambda Piscium (mag 4.5), which serves as a helpful reference point for locating it. Visible with a pair of binoculars or a telescope.
Southern Hemisphere
Mercury (Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, mag -1.5): reaches superior solar conjunction on February 9 and begins to appear in the western evening sky near the horizon by the end of February.
Venus (Pisces, mag -4.8): easily visible in the southwestern evening sky throughout February. On February 28, it begins its retrograde motion.
Mars (Gemini, mag -0.7): well-positioned for observation throughout February, visible in the evening and nighttime sky.
Jupiter (Taurus, mag -2.4): well-seen in the evening northwestern sky. Gradually decreases its separation from the Sun but remains a spectacular sight in the evening and nighttime sky.
Saturn (Aquarius, mag 1.1): visible low on the western horizon after sunset. It appears against the evening twilight and gradually approaches the Sun, making it more challenging to spot as the month progresses.
Uranus (Aries, mag 5.7): visible in the northwestern evening sky, can be observed with binoculars.
Neptune (Pisces, mag 7.9): appears low in the southwestern evening sky near the star Lambda Piscium (mag 4.5), which serves as a helpful reference point for locating the distant planet. Binoculars or a telescope will be necessary to observe Neptune.
🌟 Best planet of February — Venus at its brightest
On February 16, Venus will reach its maximum brightness, shining at a magnitude of -4.9 as the brightest object in the night sky apart from the Moon. Venus won't be this bright again until April 2026, but by then it will be visible in the morning sky — less convenient for observation. This February, Venus will dominate the western sky after sunset.
Known as the goddess of love, Venus puts on this dazzling display just days after Valentine's Day, making it even more of a celestial treat. Save the idea for a romantic night of stargazing!
🌟 7-planet alignment around February 28
Missed the planetary alignment in January that everyone was talking about? Don’t worry — you’ll have another chance around February 28! This time, a lineup of seven planets — Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars — will grace the sky after sunset. Check out our article on planetary alignments for tips on how to observe this event and explore the science behind these fascinating "planetary parades."
February constellations
In February, the zodiacal constellations Cancer, Gemini, Leo, and Taurus are well visible in both hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, the constellations Auriga, Monoceros, and Orion are also well-placed for observations. In the Southern Hemisphere, you can observe Canis Major, Lepus, and Dorado high in the sky. Read more about the best constellations to observe in February in our special article.
🌟 Astronomy with binoculars in February — Moon hides Pleiades on February 6
The Pleiades star cluster can be seen even with the naked eye, but on the night of February 5-6, you’ll need a pair of binoculars to enjoy a unique event. That night, the Pleiades will pass behind the brightest object in the night sky — the Moon. Our natural satellite, just past its First Quarter phase, will shine brightly enough to obscure some of the cluster’s dimmer stars. Binoculars will help you see this close encounter in detail.
The event occurs at 07:05 GMT and will be visible in areas where they are above the horizon at that point. The higher they are in the sky, the better the view. To check if you can observe the Moon hiding the Pleiades from your location, open the calendar section of the Sky Tonight app. Simply find the event, tap it, and you’ll see the local visibility time or a note if it’s not visible in your area.
The lunar occultation of the Pleiades will be visible for observers between longitudes 100° and 150° — including Alaska, the Pacific, and the Mountain Time Zones. The event will occur around 10:05 p.m. AKT, 11:05 p.m. PT on February 5, and 12:05 a.m. MT on February 6, correspondingly.
Alpha Centaurids — the only February meteor shower
No major meteor shower peaks will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere this February, but don’t let that stop you from heading outside! Sporadic meteors, which aren’t tied to a specific shower, can appear at any time, especially under dark skies around the New Moon.
In the Southern Hemisphere, stargazers might spot a few meteors from the Alpha Centaurids. This minor shower produces up to six meteors per hour at its peak on February 8. Unfortunately, in 2025, the peak coincides with a bright waxing gibbous Moon, making conditions unfavorable. For the best chance to catch some “shooting stars,” head outside during the pre-dawn hours, when the Moon has set and the skies are darker.
Comets in February 2025
After probably the best comet of 2025, C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), only fainter comets are left for observation.
One to look for is C/2022 E2 (ATLAS), which is circumpolar in mid-northern latitudes. This comet can be seen all night in the constellation Cassiopeia at a magnitude of about 13. It requires an 8-inch or larger telescope to observe.
Another option is Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, a Centaur-class object orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune. It also has a magnitude of about 13 and is visible all night from both hemispheres.
Comets are unpredictable. Who knows, maybe some even brighter ones will appear in the sky this month! We'll keep you up to date. In the meantime, test your knowledge of the famous comets with our fun quiz.
What is visible in the night sky tonight from my location?
Curious if February’s celestial events will be visible from your location? Check out the Sky Tonight app! It provides a real-time view of planets, stars, constellations, and even deep-sky objects, all tailored to your location. Plus, it lists upcoming celestial events with precise timings for your area. Whether you’re planning a stargazing night or just want to know what’s up there, Sky Tonight makes exploring the night sky simple and exciting. Try it out and see what’s in store tonight!
Bottom line: night sky in February 2025
In February 2025, Venus will shine at its brightest, and a stunning 7-planet alignment will occur at the end of the month. Plus, you can catch some spectacular close encounters between the Moon, stars, and planets. Use the Sky Tonight app to easily locate celestial objects and make the most of this short month’s night sky. Don’t forget to check out our infographic on 2025’s stargazing highlights to prepare for even more amazing events this year!
