annee25013 — Announcement

Night Sky: February 2025

31 January 2025

Look Up!

While NOIRLab works to unravel the secrets of the Universe, you can start your own journey to explore the night sky right from your backyard. There are plenty of celestial events for skywatchers to observe every month. Below are some highlights. If you’d like to explore more on your own, we recommend Stellarium, which has a web interface and app.

1 February: Moon and Venus Conjunction

Start the month by seeing the Moon and Venus cozy up to one another, with special guests Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter also visible.

6 February: Moon and Jupiter Conjunction near M45

Jupiter and the Moon will snuggle up next to the Pleiades (M45), the small cluster of stars that looks like a miniaturized Big Dipper. Venus, Saturn, and Mars will also be visible.

9 February: Moon and Mars Conjunction

This month’s four-planet party continues, with Mars making friends with the Moon. 

16 February: Bright Venus

Venus will reach its maximum brightness and won’t shine as brilliantly until September 2026. You won’t be able to miss it hanging low on the horizon after sunset.

Contacts

Jason Davis
Email: jason.davis@noirlab.edu

Usage of NOIRLab Images and Videos
Are you a journalist? Subscribe to the NOIRLab Media Newsletter.

About the Announcement

Id:annee25013

Images

Look Up!
Look Up!
The night sky from Tucson on 1 February after sunset. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus will be beneath the Moon, and Jupiter will appear in the north.
The night sky from Tucson on 1 February after sunset. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus will be beneath the Moon, and Jupiter will appear in the north.
The night sky from Tucson on 6 February after sunset. From Hilo, the Moon and Jupiter will appear more easterly. From La Serena, the Moon and Jupiter will be in the north, and Venus will be to the left of Saturn.
The night sky from Tucson on 6 February after sunset. From Hilo, the Moon and Jupiter will appear more easterly. From La Serena, the Moon and Jupiter will be in the north, and Venus will be to the left of Saturn.
The night sky from Tucson on 9 February after sunset. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus will be to the right of Saturn, and Jupiter will be in the north.
The night sky from Tucson on 9 February after sunset. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus will be to the right of Saturn, and Jupiter will be in the north.