NASA Skywatching Tips February 2026, Orion shines, a planetary parade, and an Artemis II mission update

Last Updated on February 3, 2026 by Cass County Communication Network

Here’s an update from our local Solar System Ambassador Pam Roller:

Check out this link:
What’s Up: February 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA Science

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech, science.nasa.gov, Chelsea Gohd

NASA’s Artemis II mission has its first opportunity to launch to the moon, Orion the Hunter takes center stage, and a planetary parade marches across the night sky.

You might be able to see the line of three stars that make up Orion’s Belt, but that belt is a part of a larger constellation called Orion, named for the hunter in Greek mythology.

Above Orion’s belt, the hunter’s right shoulder is actually Betelgeuse (or Alpha Orionis), one of the brightest stars in the night sky!

Mid-February, Saturn will drop down toward the horizon as Venus and Mercury climb upward in the sky, meeting together in the west to southwestern sky.

Jupiter will find itself high in the sky.

And even Uranus, found in the southern sky, and Neptune, found nearby Saturn, will join the parade—though you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot these two far-off planets.

The planets will be visible soon after sunset throughout the month of February, but they’ll be lined up best toward the end of the month.

So, go outside and see how many planets you can find!

The phases of the moon are also shown.