2026, February 17: New Moon, Lunar New Year, and Evening Planets

February 17, 2026: A New moon marks Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan as Mercury nears greatest elongation. Find Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, and Uranus in the February evening sky.

2026, February 15: Mercury Near Greatest Elongation, Jupiter Bright After Sunset

February 15, 2026: Mercury nears greatest elongation and is best seen after sunset, while Jupiter shines bright in the eastern sky and Saturn fades into twilight. Learn what is visible in the evening sky.

2026, February 14: Sky Almanac: Moon Near New Phase, Mercury Bright After Sunset, Jupiter Dominates the Night

February 14, 2026: This sky almanac highlights the waning crescent moon, Mercury’s best evening visibility, Jupiter shining high after sunset, and where to find Saturn and Uranus.

2026, February 13: February Morning Crescent Moon and Evening Mercury Near Greatest Elongation

February 13, 2026: Before sunrise, a thin crescent moon appears low in the southeast near Sagittarius. After sunset, Mercury nears greatest elongation while Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus shape the evening sky.

2026, February 12: Waning Crescent Moon, Mercury Before Elongation, and Jupiter Bright After Sunset

February 12, 2026: Before sunrise, the waning crescent moon displays earthshine near Antares and Sagittarius. After sunset, Mercury climbs from twilight ahead of greatest elongation, Saturn fades, and Jupiter shines near Castor and Pollux.

2026, February 11: Skywatching: Mercury Near Best Evening Visibility, Jupiter Bright

February 11, 2026: Mercury climbs higher after sunset toward greatest elongation on February 19. Jupiter shines in the east, Saturn fades, and no planet parade appears.

2026, February 10-13: Morning Crescent Moon Near Scorpius and Sagittarius, Earthshine Before Sunrise

February 10-13: Before sunrise in mid-February, the waning crescent moon moves in front of Scorpius and Sagittarius. Learn when to see earthshine, Antares, and key reference stars in the southeastern sky.

2026, February 9: Winter Stars Explained: Orion, Sirius, and the Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram

February 9, 2026: Explore winter’s brightest stars with a binocular. Learn how Orion, Sirius, and Betelgeuse reveal stellar temperature, color, and brightness through the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

2026, February 8: Sky Almanac: Moon Near Spica, Jupiter Bright, and No Planet Parade

February 8, 2026: Moon nears Spica before sunrise while Jupiter shines after sunset. Despite social media claims, only Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon are visible — not a planet parade.