February 2025 offers a celestial treat for sky watchers! Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just starting to gaze upwards, there’s plenty to see in the night sky. This month features a beautiful lineup of planets visible at various times, along with fascinating lunar events and constellations to explore. Let’s dive into What Planets Are Visible Tonight and throughout February 2025, ensuring you don’t miss out on the cosmic spectacle.
Evening Planets in February 2025
As dusk settles in February 2025, several bright planets grace the evening sky, offering stunning views for observers.
Dazzling Venus
Venus is the undisputed queen of the evening sky in early February. Shining brilliantly in the west after sunset, Venus reached its greatest brilliancy around Valentine’s Day, February 14th. Throughout February, it remains a dazzling beacon, gradually becoming less prominent as March approaches. Look for its intense, unwavering light shortly after sunset. Venus is so bright that it can even be seen before full darkness sets in, making it a prime target for even casual observers wondering “what planets are visible tonight?”.
Alt text: Evening sky view on February 14, 2025, showing Venus as the brightest planet along the ecliptic, with Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn also visible.
Majestic Jupiter
High overhead in the eastern sky, Jupiter commands attention with its bright, steady glow. As the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter is always impressive, outshining even the brightest stars. In February 2025, Jupiter is well-placed for evening viewing, rising before sunset and remaining visible for most of the night. It sets a few hours after midnight by the end of the month. Located in the constellation Taurus, Jupiter is near the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, and the bright star Aldebaran, creating a rich field of view for binoculars or telescopes. If you’re looking for planets visible tonight for a longer duration, Jupiter is an excellent choice.
Alt text: February 2025 chart showing Jupiter near the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, and Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus.
Red Planet Mars
Mars, the “red planet,” adds its distinctive hue to the evening planetary display. Visible in the evening sky and for several hours after midnight, Mars shines near the bright stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini. While Mars was at its brightest in mid-January, it still remains a noticeable presence in February, shining a bit brighter than the twin stars of Gemini. If you are wondering “what planets are visible tonight” that offer a reddish tint, Mars is your answer.
Alt text: Chart of Mars near Castor and Pollux in Gemini, visible in the February 2025 evening sky.
Fading Saturn
Saturn, with its iconic rings, is also visible in the early February evening sky, though lower on the horizon after sunset and near brilliant Venus. However, Saturn is beginning to fade into the evening twilight as the month progresses. Early February offers the best chance to spot Saturn before it becomes lost in the sunset glare by month’s end. If you are keen to see Saturn, make sure to look for it in the first half of February soon after sunset, low in the western sky. For those specifically asking “what planets are visible tonight early in the evening“, Saturn is a possible, though challenging, target.
Alt text: Early February 2025 chart showing Venus brightly shining near the fainter Saturn in the evening sky.
Elusive Mercury
Mercury, the solar system’s smallest planet and closest to the sun, makes an appearance in late February. Emerging low in the west below Venus in the bright evening twilight, Mercury is more challenging to spot than the other planets. The last few days of February offer a window to glimpse Mercury as it approaches its greatest distance from the sun in March. You’ll need a clear western horizon and to look about 20-30 minutes after sunset to have a chance of seeing Mercury. For those dedicated to finding “what planets are visible tonight, even the faintest ones,” Mercury presents an observing challenge.
Alt text: Late February 2025 chart showing Mercury appearing below the bright Venus in the western evening sky.
Morning Sky Highlights
While the evenings are rich with planetary views, the morning sky in February 2025 also offers some interesting celestial events, though planets are less prominent during morning hours this month compared to evenings.
Moon and Spica
On the morning of February 17th, the waning gibbous moon will be near Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. For some observers in specific regions, the Moon will even pass in front of Spica in an occultation. Even if you don’t witness the occultation, the close pairing of the bright moon and Spica will be a beautiful sight in the pre-dawn sky.
Alt text: February 17, 2025 morning sky showing the waning gibbous moon close to the star Spica.
Moon and Antares
Later in February, on the mornings of February 20th and 21st, the waning crescent moon will be near Antares, the bright red supergiant star in Scorpius. Like the Spica event, parts of the world will witness a lunar occultation of Antares on February 21st. For everyone else, the moon and Antares will create a striking visual pairing in the southeastern pre-dawn sky.
Alt text: Moon near the Crown of Scorpius and Antares during the mornings of February 20-21, 2025.
Moon and the Teapot
Towards the end of February, on the mornings of the 22nd and 23rd, the waning crescent moon will be passing through the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius. This is a beautiful region of the sky to observe in the early morning hours before sunrise.
Alt text: Waning crescent moon near the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius on the mornings of February 22-23, 2025.
Continuing its journey, on February 24th and 25th, the waning crescent moon will be even lower on the horizon near the Teapot, offering a chance to see earthshine – the faint glow on the unlit portion of the moon caused by sunlight reflected from Earth.
Alt text: Waning crescent moon near the Teapot of Sagittarius low on the horizon in the morning sky of February 24-25, 2025, showcasing earthshine.
February Moon Phases
Understanding the moon phases is helpful for planning your stargazing nights, especially if you prefer darker skies for fainter objects.
- Last Quarter Moon: February 20th
- New Moon: February 28th
The new moon on February 28th is particularly noteworthy as it’s the first of five supermoons in a row for 2025. New moon nights, like those around February 28th, are ideal for observing planets and deep-sky objects as the sky is darkest.
Zodiacal Light
February is also a good time to look for the zodiacal light in the evening sky after twilight fades completely. This faint, pyramid-shaped glow is caused by sunlight scattering off dust particles in the plane of our solar system. Venus will be situated within the zodiacal light during February 2025, potentially enhancing the visual spectacle. You’ll need a dark sky away from city lights to see this subtle phenomenon.
Alt text: Zodiacal light appearing as a hazy pyramid above the horizon after sunset, with Venus visible within it, photographed in March 2023, similar to February 2025 conditions.
February Constellations
Beyond planets, February evenings showcase prominent winter constellations.
Orion the Hunter
Orion, one of the most recognizable constellations, dominates the February evening sky. Its bright stars, including Betelgeuse and Rigel, and the distinctive Orion’s Belt, make it easy to find. Orion is a treasure trove of celestial wonders, including the Orion Nebula, visible even with binoculars.
Alt text: Star chart of the Orion constellation, highlighting Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Orion’s Belt, prominent in the February sky.
Auriga the Charioteer
High overhead, you can find Auriga, the Charioteer, marked by the bright star Capella. Capella is known for its “flashy” appearance when low on the horizon due to atmospheric effects. Near Capella, look for the asterism “The Kids,” a small triangle of stars.
Alt text: Star chart of the Auriga constellation featuring Capella and the asterism The Kids, high in the February evening sky.
Gemini the Twins
Gemini, the Twins, is another prominent constellation in February evenings, hosting the bright stars Castor and Pollux. As mentioned earlier, Mars is located in Gemini this February, adding to its visibility and making it easier to locate.
Alt text: Star chart of the Gemini constellation showing the twin stars Castor and Pollux, and Mars nearby in the February night sky.
Sky Dome and Heliocentric Views
For a broader perspective, sky dome maps and heliocentric charts can be incredibly helpful. Sky dome maps, like those from Guy Ottewell’s Astronomical Calendar, show what’s above the horizon at a given time. Heliocentric charts illustrate the positions of planets in our solar system from a sun-centered perspective. These tools provide a wider context for understanding “what planets are visible tonight” and their place in the cosmos.
Alt text: Sky dome map for February 2025 showing constellations, planets, the Moon, and the Milky Way visible in the mid-evening sky.
Alt text: Heliocentric chart of the solar system for February 2025, displaying the positions of planets around the Sun.
Resources for Stargazing
To make the most of your planet and stargazing experience in February 2025, here are some helpful resources:
- Stellarium Web: For precise sky views from your location (https://stellarium-web.org).
- Almanac.com: For planet rise and set times (https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/planets-rise-and-set).
- TheSkyLive: For real-time sky charts and information (https://theskylive.com).
- EarthSky Community Photos: To share your night sky photos and see what others are observing (https://earthsky.org/community-submissions/).
- EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze: To find dark sky locations near you (https://earthsky.org/stargazing).
Conclusion: Embrace the February Night Sky
February 2025 is a fantastic month for planet viewing, especially in the evening sky. Venus, Jupiter, and Mars are readily visible, with Saturn and Mercury offering more challenging but rewarding targets. Coupled with lunar events and beautiful winter constellations, the February night sky has something for everyone. So, step outside, look up, and explore “what planets are visible tonight!” Happy stargazing!
Alt text: Cover of Guy Ottewell’s Astronomical Calendar for 2025, featuring Cygnus the Swan in front of the Milky Way, representing visible planets and the beauty of the night sky.
