Planets & Stars Visible Tonight: February 2024 Night Sky Maps

Looking to explore what planets and stars are visible in the nights of February 2024? Here are some of the best celestial objects to observe with the naked eye, binoculars, or a small telescope in the northern hemisphere.

The night sky is always changing, as the Earth orbits the Sun, and the Moon orbits the Earth. The positions of the stars and planets also shift slightly over time, due to their own motions in space. This means that every month, there are different constellations, planets and stars to look for in the sky.

Some of the objects in the sky are visible to the naked eye, while others require binoculars or a telescope to see more details. We will focus on the visible planets and brighter stars and formations that you can see without any equipment. We will also mention some deep space objects that you can explore with a telescope if you have one.

Main Astronomical Highlights in the Night Sky for December 2023

February 11 at 10.00 PM: Castor & Pollux
February 12 at 5.30 PM: Moon meets Saturn & Jupiter
February 14 at 7.00 PM: Aldebaran & Betelgeuse
February 16 at 6.30 AM: Venus & Mars
February 17 at 8.00 PM: Jupiter near moon
February 20 at 8.00 PM: Moon in Winter Circle
February 23 at 8.00 PM: Sirius & Orion
February 24 at 8.00 PM: Full Snow Moon
February 27 at 9.00 PM: Little Dipper & Big Dipper
All February at about 9.00 PM: Capella in Auriga (Winter Triangle)
All February at about 8.00 PM: Big Dipper
All February at about 9.00 PM: Orion & Canis Major

Celestial Delights: What to See in the Night Sky for February 2024

The February night sky of 2024 offers a dazzling display of planetary and stellar wonders. From the bright planets to the sparkling stars and fiery meteors, the cosmic show is sure to captivate your eyes and imagination. Let’s explore the astral highlights that greet us in the second month of 2024.

Venus
Venus, the brightest planet in the sky, continues to dazzle in the morning hours before sunrise. On February 16, Venus reaches its greatest illuminated extent, shining with a stunning 46% phase. Look for Venus in the southeast, near the constellation Capricornus. On February 28, Venus joins forces with the waning crescent Moon in a spectacular conjunction.

Mars
Mars, which left the evening sky last September, is now returning to view. It’s currently quite low and not super bright in February. But observe it brightening and rising earlier in the coming months.

Saturn
Saturn, the ringed wonder, remains low in the southwest after sunset, in the constellation Aquarius. A telescope reveals the beauty of Saturn’s rings, which are tilted at a favorable angle for observers. Try getting a look at Saturn before February 12 as it will be moving out of view soon. On February 28, Saturn reaches its superior conjunction, when it is directly behind the Sun from our perspective and out of sight. It won’t reappear again until late March.

Moon Meets Saturn & Jupiter
The Moon plays a prominent role in the night sky this month, as it visits several planets and stars. On February 12th, the Moon forms a line with Saturn and Jupiter in the southwest. On February 18 and 19, the waning gibbous Moon passes by the bright star Regulus in Leo. On February 23 and 24, the last quarter Moon meets Mars and Mercury in the predawn sky.

Jupiter
Begin your observations as twilight falls, and you’ll witness the lower contrast of Jupiter’s Jovian disk—a captivating sight indeed! Additionally, mark your calendar for February 15, when Jupiter will be about 3.2 degrees south of the Moon. This celestial pairing will be a wonderful sight to behold in the same part of the sky.

Mercury
Mercury is challenging to spot this month, as it is moving slowly behind the sun (superior conjunction). We will need to wait till March before we can see it again.

Stars & Constellations to See in February

February is a great month to observe some of the stars and constellations that brighten the winter night sky. In the northern hemisphere, you can spot the Winter Circle. This asterism is visible for most of the night in the northern hemisphere when it is high in the sky at mid-northern latitudes, from December to March.

It consists of the stars Sirius in Canis Major, Betelgeuse in Orion, and Procyon in Canis Minor. The best time to view The Winter Circle is in the early evening.

Betelgeuse and Rigel in Orion

Betelgeuse, a variable red supergiant, radiates its fiery glow in the constellation Orion. Setting in the west around 6 pm and reaching its lowest point around 2 am, Betelgeuse is a key player in the Winter Triangle and Winter Hexagon asterisms.

Rigel, a blue-white supergiant, brightens the constellation Orion’s western sky every night in February. As the brightest star in Orion, it forms one of its shoulders and contributes to the Winter Hexagon asterism.

Aldebaran: Taurus’ Brightest Star and Hyades Marker

In February 2024, the orange giant star Aldebaran shines brightly in the constellation of Taurus, rising in the east around 7 pm and reaching its highest point around 11 pm. Aldebaran is part of the Winter Hexagon, a large asterism formed by six bright stars.

It also marks the eye of the bull in the Hyades star cluster, which has a V-shaped pattern of stars that resemble the horns of the animal.

Castor & Pollux in Gemini

These two stars belong to the Gemini constellation, also known as the Twins. They appear close to each other in the sky. Castor is white and Pollux is yellow. They are named after the mythical twins who were half-brothers and friends of Hercules.

To see them in the northern hemisphere night sky in February, you need to look east after sunset. They will be high in the sky around midnight, and then move westward until dawn.

The best night to observe them are February 11th, when the moon is not around and won’t interfere with their brightness.

February 14: Jupiter’s Celestial Embrace on Valentine’s Day

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a celestial rendezvous as the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, joins the moon in a close conjunction. This rare event will create a stunning contrast between the bright lunar disk and the fainter gas giant. A perfect opportunity to observe and appreciate the beauty of the cosmos on Valentine’s Day.

Constellations & Asterisms: Orion, Big Dipper, Canis Major & the Sickle in the January Night Sky

The night sky in February 2024 offers a variety of celestial sights for stargazers. Some of the most prominent constellations and asterisms of winter are still visible, such as Orion, the Big Dipper, Canis Major, and the Sickle. Here are some tips on how to observe them and what to look for.

Orion & Canis Major

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky, especially in the northern hemisphere. It is easy to spot by its distinctive hourglass shape and the three bright stars that form Orion’s Belt. Orion is visible in the south-southwest in the early evening and sets before midnight.

You can use Orion’s Belt to find other stars and constellations, such as Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which lies below and to the left of Orion. Sirius is part of Canis Major, the Great Dog, which follows Orion across the sky. You can also use Orion’s Belt to locate Aldebaran, the red eye of Taurus, the Bull, which lies above and to the right of Orion.

The Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is an asterism, or a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern, but are not a constellation. The Big Dipper is part of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and is visible all year round in the northern hemisphere. In February, it is high in the northeast in the evening, and rotates counterclockwise around Polaris, the North Star, throughout the night.

You can use the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl to point to Polaris, which lies about five times their distance away. Polaris is also the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper, another asterism that is part of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.

The Sickle

The Sickle is another asterism that is part of Leo, the Lion. It resembles a backward question mark and forms the head and mane of Leo. The Sickle rises in the east in late evening and reaches its highest point in the south around dawn. The brightest star in the Sickle is Regulus, which marks the heart of Leo.

Regulus is one of the four royal stars that mark the cardinal directions along the ecliptic, or the path of the Sun across the sky. The other three are Aldebaran in Taurus (west), Antares in Scorpius (east), and Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus (south).

Meteor Showers in February 2024

February is not a very active month for meteor showers, but there is one minor shower that you can try to catch if you are lucky. The Alpha Centaurid meteor shower peaks on Feb. 8, but is relatively small, producing only about 6 meteors per hour at best. It is visible from both hemispheres, but better seen from the Southern Hemisphere.

The radiant point of this shower is near Alpha Centauri, the fourth brightest star in the sky and part of the constellation Centaurus. To see this shower, you will need to look south after midnight and hope for clear skies.

Full Snow Moon: February 24th

The Full Snow Moon of February 2024, slated for Saturday, February 24th at 7:30 AM EST or 12:30 PM UTC, carries a distinct charm as it bathes the night sky in its heightened luminosity. 10 pm looking SE near the Sickle.

Named for the heavy snowfall often associated with this month in various cultural traditions, this lunar event takes on added significance. As the moon reaches its fullest point, it becomes a celestial spectacle, inviting people to gaze up and appreciate the beauty of the night.

Planets Visible Tonight in North America (Approximate Times)

What Planets Are Visible (Evenings/Nights)

On February evenings and nights, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury are visible in the night sky.
Saturn: Saturn will be visible in the evenings until February 10. Its yellowish dot will appear in the lower part of the southwestern sky at dusk, climb to its highest point due south at 7:15 p.m. local time, and then set in the west around 11:45 p.m.
Jupiter: Jupiter will be visible in the evenings until February 28. It will be at its brightest from January 23 to February 18. You can use binoculars to view its moons.
Mercury: Mercury will be visible in the mornings from February 7 to March 2. It will be at greatest eastern elongation on February 26th, when it will be farthest from the sun and easiest to see.
Venus: Venus will be visible in the evenings until February 25. It will be moving away from the bright star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. On February 4, Venus will be only 3 degrees away from Antares, creating a striking contrast of colors. Venus will set earlier each night, losing about a minute of visibility per day. At the start of the month, Venus will set around 6 p.m. local time, and by the end of the month, it will set around 5 p.m.
Mars: Mars will be too close to the sun to be visible in February. It passed behind the sun on November 18, and won’t be visible again until it reappears in the east before sunrise in late March.

What Planets Are Visible (Mornings)

Venus: In February, Venus continues to be the brightest object in the morning sky. On the morning of February 6, 2024, look for the spectacular conjunction of the waning crescent moon and Venus in the southeast before sunrise.
Mercury: In February, Mercury is not visible in the morning sky as it passes behind the sun. It will reappear in the evening sky later in March.
Saturn: In February, Saturn becomes visible in the morning sky after its solar conjunction. It rises around 6 am at the beginning of the month and around 4 am by the end of the month. Look for it low in the southeast before dawn.
Jupiter: Visible in the morning sky throughout the month. It rises around 1 am at the beginning of the month and around 11 pm by the end of the month. Look for it in the east before dawn.

Why We Can’t See Mars in February 2024

Mars is one of the most fascinating planets in the night sky, but in February 2024, it will still be difficult to see. This is because Mars was in conjunction with the Sun in November 2023, meaning it was on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth.

Mars has a longer orbital period than Earth, so it takes more time to complete one revolution around the Sun. As a result, Mars switches from being visible in the evening to being visible in the morning every two years. In early February 2024, Mars will rise higher in the east-southeastern horizon before dawn. But we have to wait until mid-2024 before we get a better view of Mars.

The Best Planets & Stars to Look at Through Binoculars in February 2024 Night Sky

As February 2024 unfolds, the celestial stage is set with Venus leading the spectacle. Venus, at its brightest, graces the morning sky, captivating early risers with its radiant glow. A stunning conjunction with the waning crescent Moon on February 28 adds to its allure, painting a picture of cosmic harmony.

Meanwhile, Mars, making its return after a hiatus from the evening sky, begins its slow ascent, promising brighter nights in the months ahead. Saturn, the ringed wonder, bids a temporary farewell, slipping behind the Sun and out of sight until late March. The Moon, a celestial wanderer, dances with planets and stars throughout the month, creating celestial tapestries that delight stargazers.

As we gaze upward, we witness Jupiter’s stately progress, its Jovian disk a mesmerizing sight against the backdrop of night. This giant planet shares a celestial embrace with the Moon on February 15, a celestial gift on Valentine’s Day. Though Mercury remains elusive, hidden behind the Sun, its eventual reappearance in March offers hope for future celestial delights.

Bottom Line on What Planets & Stars Are Visible in the February 2024 Night Sky

The night sky in February also offers a canvas of stars and constellations, from the Winter Circle to Orion and Canis Major. Betelgeuse and Rigel in Orion, Sirius in Canis Major, and Aldebaran in Taurus add their brilliance to the winter sky, guiding our eyes and imaginations across the cosmos. As the Full Snow Moon bathes the night in its luminous glow on February 24, we are reminded of the beauty and wonder that await those who look up and embrace the celestial ballet above.

Stargazing Tips

First and foremost, make sure you find an appropriate time to stargaze. After sunset is usually the most convenient time. This guide will show you many wonderful objects to stargaze at during late evening. Early morning is more spectacular. There is less light pollution, even in cities as people have put their outside lights off. However, it’s always a good idea to check local weather conditions before venturing outside — a cloudy or windy night can make viewing less enjoyable.

If you don’t have access to a telescope or binoculars, there are other ways to enjoy the night sky. For example, using an app that provides information on stars and planets such as SkyGuide will help you locate them in space. And lastly, dress warmly! Even on a clear winter evening temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

---

By Master Influencer Magazine Science & Technology Staff

Star charts and astronomical information are based on software estimated views for mid-northern latitude locations such as the United States of America, Canada, Europe & Northern Asia.

Published 7:04 PM EDT, Friday February 02, 2024

Keywords

Stargazing, Night Sky Watching, Binoculars, Capella, Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Winter Circle, Venus, Full Snow Moon, Orion, Sirius, Castor, Pollux, Cassiopeia, The Sickle, Little Dipper, Big Dipper

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Advertised Business Content

Advertisement