By Heather Durham | January 31, 2025
February 2025 brings an extraordinary array of celestial events to New England skywatchers. As we enter the month, Venus and Saturn create a stunning twins in the western twilight sky, with Venus shining brilliantly at magnitude -4.8 while Saturn appears more modest at magnitude 1.1. The month begins with a thin crescent Moon joining Venus, Saturn, and Neptune on February 1st, creating a beautiful grouping in the twilight sky. The naked-eye view of Venus and Saturn near the delicate crescent Moon will be worth braving the winter chill. The first week offers excellent evening viewing of Mars, Jupiter, and Venus, forming an arc across the darkening sky.
The month’s headline event arrives on February 28th, when all seven planets of our solar system will be observable in a grand celestial parade. This remarkable alignment will unfold across the evening sky, with Mars appearing highest in Gemini, Jupiter gleaming in Taurus, and Venus commanding attention in Pisces. While Uranus and Neptune require optical aid, the naked eye can easily spot Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury in a sweeping arc across the heavens. This event marks one of the year’s most spectacular planetary gatherings, though observers should note that Saturn and Mercury will be challenging to spot due to their proximity to the sunset.
The Moon’s phases provide perfect opportunities for both planetary and deep-sky observation. The First Quarter Moon arrives on February 5th at 03:02, followed by the Full “Snow” Moon on February 12th at 08:53. The month’s dark sky window opens after February 20th, when the Last Quarter Moon rises late, offering prime conditions for observing the winter Milky Way. For New England observers, the real treat comes in the crystal-clear winter nights when the bright planets stand out against the backdrop of winter constellations.
Daily Event Calendar
February 1: Venus-Saturn-Crescent Moon conjunction – Beautiful grouping visible in western sky after sunset
February 5: First Quarter Moon (03:02) – Perfect evening for observing lunar features
February 9: Mars-Moon close approach – Striking pairing high in evening sky
February 12: Full Snow Moon (08:53) – Rises at sunset with excellent visibility
February 20: Last Quarter Moon (12:32) – Dark sky window begins
February 24: Mars reverses direction – Notable directional shift visible in evening sky
February 25: Saturn-Mercury conjunction – Very close approach low in western twilight
February 28: Seven-planet alignment – Grand parade of planets visible across evening sky
Best Viewing Conditions
For optimal viewing in New England during February, seek locations away from city lights, preferably at higher elevations. The best viewing times are typically between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM EST for planetary observations. Clear winter nights offer exceptional transparency, though observers should dress warmly and allow 30 minutes for dark adaptation.
References:
American Astronomical Society. (2025, January 27). Astronomical events calendar. Retrieved from In-The-Sky.org
Masi, G. (2025). Calendar of astronomical events 2025. Retrieved from The Virtual Telescope Project
McClure, B., & Byrd, D. (2025). Night sky almanac 2025. Retrieved from EarthSky Communications
Space.com. (2025, January 27). Astronomy and skywatching events for February 2025. Retrieved from Space.com
Stellarium Labs. (2025). Stellarium astronomical database (Version 2025.1) mobile application software. Retrieved from Stellarium-Labs.com
Time and Date AS. (2025). Moon phases and astronomical events calendar 2025. Retrieved from Time and Date AS
U.S. Naval Observatory. (2025). The astronomical almanac for the year 2025. Retrieved from U.S. Naval Observatory
Note: All astronomical calculations and event timings have been verified against multiple authoritative sources including In-The-Sky.org, Space.com, and the U.S. Naval Observatory databases for accuracy in the year 2025.
Milton Observer 