(Photo Credit : Generated image)
1 / 8Astronomy enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to this February, as the skies promise a series of striking celestial events. The month begins with the Snow Moon and ends with a parade of six planets. Whether you are hoping to capture a photograph of the glowing full Moon or witness a solar eclipse, here is a guide to the celestial events taking place in February 2026.
2 / 8Snow Moon — 1 February: The first full “Snow Moon” will be visible on 1 February. The Moon reaches peak brightness at around 5 pm EST (3:30 am IST on 2 February). The name “Snow Moon” comes from the heavy snowfall that typically blankets much of the Northern Hemisphere at this time of year.
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3 / 8Alpha Centaurid meteor shower — 8 February: This meteor shower runs from 31 January to 20 February, peaking on 8 February. Under clear, dark skies, observers might see up to six meteors per hour at its peak. The Alpha Centaurids are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, where the meteors appear brighter and more frequent. Observers in the southernmost parts of the Northern Hemisphere, such as Mexico or southern California, may also spot a few shooting stars.
4 / 8Solar eclipse — 17 February: Skywatchers will witness an annular solar eclipse on 17 February, when the Moon is slightly farther from Earth than usual. This causes the centre of the Sun to be obscured while its outer edge remains visible, forming a dramatic “ring of fire”. The annular phase will only be visible from Antarctica and parts of the southern Indian Ocean. People in the far southern regions of the Southern Hemisphere — including southern Argentina, Chile and Botswana — will not see the full ring but may observe a partial eclipse.
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5 / 8Moon and Mercury appear close — 18 February: On 18 February, just a day after the new Moon, a thin crescent Moon will appear close to Mercury in the sky. Binoculars or a small telescope will help you see the pairing more clearly. Look towards the western horizon after sunset for one to two hours as the sky darkens. Venus and Saturn may also be visible nearby.
(Photo Credit : Pixabay)
6 / 8Crescent Moon and Mercury elongation — 19 February: The thin crescent Moon will appear near Saturn on 19 February. At just two days old, the Moon will resemble a delicate fingernail clipping in the sky. This pairing will be visible above the western horizon for about two hours after sunset. On the same day, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation — its farthest apparent point from the Sun in the evening sky — making it easier to spot than usual just above the western horizon after sunset.
(Photo Credit : Pixabay)
7 / 8Moon nears the Pleiades — 23 February: On 23 February, the waxing crescent Moon will appear close to the Pleiades star cluster. The pair will be visible in the south-western sky shortly after sunset and will drift westward through the night, setting at around 2 am.
(Photo Credit : Generated image)
8 / 8Planet parade — 28 February: Six planets will be visible across the sky in late February, with the alignment lasting from about 20 February into early March. During this “planet parade”, Venus, Mercury and Saturn will be grouped above the western horizon, setting within about an hour after sunset. Neptune will lie near Saturn but will require binoculars or a telescope to see. Jupiter will be visible roughly halfway up the eastern sky, shining brightly and easily identified. Uranus, which also requires optical aid, will be high in the southern sky near the Pleiades star cluster. If you’d like, I can also turn this into a shorter news-style version or a viewing guide by hemisphere.
