Stargazers looking ahead to February\u2019s highlights should make some time to look up not only during the night, but also during the day. In addition to the first solar eclipse of the year and a “planet parade,” there’s also have a historic crewed mission around the moon and one of your best shots at spotting the usually washed-out Mercury.\n<\/p>\n
Southern hemisphere stargazers may be able to spot fireballs from a minor shower early in the month. If you\u2019re interested in planning your travel or just a quiet evening in the backyard around the more significant meteor showers for 2026, you can check out our full guide here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n For those in the northern hemisphere, cold nights continue to create the best stargazing conditions of the year. So throw on a warm jacket, search out dark skies<\/a>, and enjoy February\u2019s highlights below.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 1: The Rise of the Full \u2018Snow\u2019 Moon <\/p>\n February\u2019s full moon, known as the \u201csnow moon,\u201d will rise on Feb. 1, casting a bright glow over winter landscapes across the Northern Hemisphere. The moon reaches peak fullness at 5:09 p.m. ET, according to Astronomy.com<\/a>. The most striking views, however, often come just after moonrise, when it creeps low over the horizon. At that point, a visual phenomenon known as the \u201cmoon illusion\u201d can make it appear noticeably larger and brighter, as noted by NASA<\/a>. For budding astrophotographers, this is a great opportunity to try capturing this lunar illusion, especially when viewed against snowy terrain or open landscapes.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 6: Window for NASA\u2019s Historic Moon Mission Opens <\/p>\n While this particular highlight will originate from Earth, NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission to the moon is not one to be missed for anyone with an appreciation of space exploration. Not only will it feature the launch of NASA\u2019s most powerful rocket ever, but it will also mark the first time in more than 50 years that humans will travel beyond low Earth orbit. Feb 6 will mark the opening of the launch window for Artemis II, with backup dates for several days later should a delay be required. The 10-day flight around the moon will test NASA\u2019s Orion crew spacecraft in deep space ahead of a planned landing on the lunar surface in mid-2027. Whether you watch the launch online or from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this is one historic space mission that is not to be missed!\n<\/p>\n Feb. 8-9: Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower (Southern Hemisphere) <\/p>\n While the Alpha Centaurids are considered a relatively minor meteor shower, they\u2019re known for quality over quantity. Rates are modest, typically just a handful of meteors per hour, but the payoff can come in the form of occasional streaking, bright fireballs. Stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best views on Feb. 8\u20139, when the shower\u2019s radiant in the constellation Centaurus climbs high overhead around midnight. Moonlight should be manageable after midnight, making this a worthwhile late-night watch for anyone hoping to catch one of this shower\u2019s more dramatic streaks.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 17: Witness the Eerie Glow of an Annular Solar Eclipse <\/p>\n For those lucky enough to be in the right place on Earth, the first solar eclipse of 2026 will unfold on Feb. 17 as an annular eclipse. Also known as a \u201cring of fire,\u201d an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at the farthest point in its orbit around the Earth and doesn\u2019t quite cover the full surface of the sun. As a result, the edges of the sun create a flaming border around the moon\u2019s silhouette.\n<\/p>\n To see the eclipse in full, you\u2019ll need to either be in a remote region of Antarctica or the southern regions of the Southern Ocean. Those along the southern tip of South America and southern Africa will be treated to a partial eclipse.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 17: New Moon <\/p>\n February\u2019s new moon, a phase of the Moon where it sits between the Earth and Sun and is essentially invisible, will result in excellent night sky viewing conditions for the latter half of the month. One standout target to try locating is the Bode\u2019s Galaxy M81, one of the brightest galaxies in the evening sky. It will be well placed around the time of the new moon, reaching its highest point in the sky<\/a> around midnight local time.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 17: Point Your Scope at C\/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) <\/p>\n While not expected to brighten to anything approaching naked-eye status, Comet 2024 E1 (Wierzchos) should still be visible to anyone in the northern hemisphere with a telescope and access to dark skies. Aiding in the attempt will be the coinciding new moon, which eliminates any interference from moonlight. After its close pass by the sun in January, the comet makes its closest approach to Earth on Feb. 17 (about 93 million miles away) before continuing toward the outer solar system. According to <\/a>Space.com<\/a>,<\/a> it\u2019s expected to brighten to about magnitude 9. Point a small telescope just after sunset toward the southwest to catch Comet E1 low on the horizon.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 19: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation <\/p>\n For northern hemisphere skywatchers, Feb. 19 is one of the best chances to spot Mercury, the planet that usually gets lost in the sun\u2019s glare. That evening, it reaches its greatest eastern elongation, meaning it appears as far from the sun as it can get in our sky for this cycle, giving it a brief viewing window in twilight. To see it, find an open western horizon and look 20-40 minutes after sunset. Mercury will appear as a bright star just above the horizon and slightly to the left of where the sun went down.\n<\/p>\n Feb. 28: Catch a \u2018Parade\u2019 of Six Planets <\/p>\n