Night sky February 2026: What you can see tonight

February's night sky includes a full moon on Feb. 1 and evening views of bright planets such as Venus and Jupiter.

The night sky in February 2026 offers a steady sequence of lunar phases, visible planets, and a few notable events for observers across many latitudes. Basic equipment like binoculars or a small telescope can enhance views, while unaided-eye observations still reveal major stars and bright planets. Monthly guidance and star charts are commonly provided by astronomy educators to help identify objects and timings. This month's highlights: - Full moon: February's full moon occurs on Feb. 1 and shines among the stars of Cancer; several Indigenous and European names for the moon are recorded for this month. - Lunar occultation of Regulus: On the evening of Feb. 2 the waning gibbous moon will pass close to or in front of Regulus for observers across a zone from eastern North America across the Atlantic to northwestern Africa; specific timing varies by location (for example, in Toronto the star is covered at about 8:48 p.m. Eastern Time and reappears near 9:51 p.m. ET). - Zodiacal light window: From about Feb. 3 until the new moon on Feb. 17, observers in mid-northern latitudes under dark skies may see the faint zodiacal light in the western sky after twilight. - Uranus motion: On Feb. 4 Uranus ends its westward retrograde and resumes eastward motion; at about magnitude +5.7 it can be located near the Pleiades and seen in binoculars or small telescopes under dark skies. - Annular solar eclipse at new moon: The new moon on Feb. 17 produces an eclipse visible in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, including the southern tip of South America, most of Antarctica and nearby islands, and portions of southeastern Africa and the Indian Ocean region; a brief annular phase is reported for a narrow track during that event and the eclipse timing varies by location. - Saturn and Neptune close approach: Around Feb. 20 Saturn and Neptune pass within about 0.8 degrees of one another, a pairing visible together in binoculars or a backyard telescope for a short period. Summary: February brings a mix of lunar phases, planet pairings, and a notable eclipse path in the Southern Hemisphere that will be of interest to observers and astronomers. Timing and visibility depend on local horizon, moon phase, and sky conditions, and several events have location-specific schedules. The annular eclipse on Feb. 17 and the Saturn–Neptune close pairing around Feb. 20 are among the month's most widely noted events.