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What’s up in the sky? February 2025 lineup of planets, eye-catching alignments

“What’s up in the sky?” is a recurring feature and publishes on the first of every month. You can find it on Ƶapp’s The Space Place. Email Greg your space questions and he might answer them in the next edition.

Each month, Ƶapp is showcasing the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events in the D.C. region will be included as well.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: 2021 pair up of the young crescent moon — showing earthshine — and Venus. On Feb. 1, 2025, Venus will be to the right of the moon. (Ƶapp/Greg Redfern)

Let’s get to the sky for February 2025!

January 2025 was a very exciting month and start to the New Year for stargazers. February has a nice lineup as well of planets and some eye-catching alignments.

Must-see sky sights for February 

The bright and glorious constellations of winter continue to greet you as soon as it gets dark. Take some Orion, the Hunter; Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins, and others.

Highlight of the month Feb. 1: The young waxing crescent moon and bright Venus pair up in the southwestern sky at dusk for a stunning view — on the moon. Saturn will be just about a held at arm’s length, below this beautiful pair.

Venus
CLICK TO ENLARGE: No missing Venus in the night sky, especially on Feb. 14, 2025, when it will be at its brightest. Time to look for your Venusian shadow! (Ƶapp/Greg Redfern)

Feb. 5: The waxing gibbous moon once again keeps close company with the Pleiades Star Cluster — binoculars recommended.

Feb. 9: Mars, the waxing gibbous moon and the star Castor, form an impressive isosceles triangle in the East as it gets dark.

Highlight of the month Feb. 14: For our viewing, Venus will be at its brightest in the Southwest. It’s (how astronomers measure the visual brightness of the objects in the sky) is a whopping -4.9.

At a dark sky location , you could possibly see your shadow cast by Venus — on how to do this are online. I have experienced this at pristine locations and it is something to see.

Highlight of the month Feb. 14: If you happen to be at a dark sky site in the next two weeks, make sure you in the western sky as it gets dark. Brilliant Venus most likely will be in the triangular shape of the zodiacal light which will be a real visual and photographic treat.

Try taking an astro-pic with your smartphone or digital camera. For best results, the camera should be mounted on a tripod or held very steady for a time exposure of several seconds.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Brilliant Venus and Saturn — to the upper left —  in the triangular shape of the zodiacal light. (Ƶapp/Greg Redfern)

Feb. 17: The waning gibbous moon is very close to the bright star Spica in the hours before dawn in the Southwest. Binoculars will help the view.

Feb. 21: The waning crescent moon will be very close to the red supergiant star, Antares, in the hours before dawn in the southeast.

Feb. 24-25: Mercury pairs up with Saturn for a very at sunset. You will have to have a clear horizon to see the pair as they will be low and in bright twilight. Use Venus as a guide, look straight down toward the horizon at 6:30 p.m. — Mercury is on the right. Binoculars will help immensely. Worth trying an astro-pic, too.

The moon

Feb. 5: First Quarter

Feb. 12: February’s full moon is . The D.C. area certainly had snow in January!

Feb. 20: Last Quarter

Feb. 28: New Moon

The planets

Mercury is low in the southeast sky about an hour before sunrise and binoculars will help immensely to find the bright yellowish planet. It transitions to the evening sky in the southwest toward the end of the month to pair up with Saturn.

Venus blazes above the southwest horizon as it gets dark, you can’t miss it.

Mars is in the East as it gets dark and has faded in brightness. In a small telescope, some surface features can be spotted and identified .

Jupiter is bright and located high in the sky with only the moon and Venus being brighter than the king of the planets. A pair of 7×50 binoculars will show the four main moons of Jupiter looking like “stars” in a line which constantly changes. You can .

A small telescope can reveal features in Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Saturn is low in the southwestern sky at dusk. A small telescope will show that Saturn’s rings are currently almost edge on — quite the sight.

Uranus can be spotted with binoculars using to locate it. In small telescopes, you can detect the color of the planet but not much else.

Neptune needs a telescope to be viewed and it is worth seeing its deep blue color.

Pluto is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope spaced days apart to hunt it down.

DC-area events

February events at Virginia State Parks can be found .

The NOVAC General Meeting will be held at George Mason University. for the date and other February astronomy events.

The National Capital Astronomers will have its meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8.

holds Friday night public viewing sessions of Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Those hours will remain until next spring.

The Smithsonian Air & Space in D.C. and Chantilly has loads of in January.

You can Ի for astronomy clubs that are outside the D.C. area.

Added bonus

ٴǷɲԱDz, which features out-of-this world pictures and information.

ճ is another resource for tracking space missions.

Use this  for your location to help you find your way around the stars.

Follow Greg Redfern on , and his  to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration

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