Dark Skies February 2026

What’s to be seen in the night skies in February?

Around about the 18^th – 25^th of the month there will be six planets visible in the night sky in what is termed a planet parade Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury—will be visible to the naked eye from many locations, – Venus low in the sky and bright to the South West and then directly above a shady moon will be Mercury. These will be visible to the eye while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a small telescope, look on Royal Observatory web site for details of tracking Uranus and Neptune – again in the SW. Spotting all will be a challenge.

Saturn, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune are tightly grouped together. The first three can only be spotted shortly after sunset. Jupiter is the easiest to see very bright and shining most of the night.

February 2026 Night Sky Calendar — Voyageurs Conservancy

Dominant in the skies is Orion.

Key Features of Orion

Prominent Stars: Orion contains several bright stars, including:

• Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis): A red supergiant star marking Orion’s right shoulder, known for its variable brightness and potential to explode as a supernova in the future.
• Rigel (Beta Orionis): The brightest star in Orion, a blue supergiant that represents the hunter’s left foot.
• Orion’s Belt: Formed by three stars—Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka—these stars are easily identifiable and help locate the constellation in the night sky. 
• Orion Nebula: Located in Orion’s Sword, the Orion Nebula (M42) is one of the brightest nebulae visible to the naked eye and is a region of active star formation, situated about 1,400 light-years away from Earth.

It’s not often there are books on Dark Skies but a readable book by Megan Eves-Egenes has just been published, entitled Night Faring – in search of the disappearing darkness – it’s an engaging read and quite immersive.

Explore More: Dark Skies Festival 2026

If February’s celestial wonders leave you wanting more, the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival runs 13 February – 1 March 2026 and is a perfect way to deepen your stargazing experience.
Explore events, talks, night walks, photography sessions and more at the official festival site:
👉 Dark Skies Festival 2026 – North York Moors & Yorkshire Dales