What’s Up in the Sky – February 2022

February’s Evening Planets:

Neptune is in Aquarius the Water Bearer, until 9 PM, setting earlier every night until 7 PM by the end of February. Uranus is in Cetus, the Sea monster, until 1 AM, setting earlier toward 11 PM through the month.

February’s Evening Stars:

View the Winter Triangle; Sirius, the brightest star viewed from Earth, in Canis Major the Great Dog; Betelgeuse in Orion the Hunter; and Procyon in Canis Minor the Small Dog. Spot Rigel in Orion, Capella in Auriga the Charioteer, Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull, and bright Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins. Also find the stars of constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus, Cepheus, Draco, Leo, Aries, and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).

February’s Morning Planets:

Bright Venus can be seen by 5 AM at the beginning of February, and earlier every morning between Scutum the Shield and Sagittarius the Archer. Mars, the red planet, will be in Sagittarius the Archer from 5 AM. Mercury will be between Sagittarius the Archer and Capricornus the Sea-goat as of 6 AM. Dwarf planet Pluto will be in Sagittarius the Archer as of 6 AM and rising earlier every morning.

February’s Morning Stars:

See the Summer Triangle of Vega in Lyra the Harp, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, and Altair in Aquila the Eagle as 4:30 AM at the beginning of the month, and earlier each day after. Look for Capella in Auriga, reddish Antares in Scorpius, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman, and Spica in Virgo, along with the stars of constellations Leo, Hercules, Libra, Cancer, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).