"What's Up" From NASA and JPL for the Month of February, 2026
February 2026 brings us our first opportunity for a manned visit to the Moon since 1972, the constellation of Orion is situated for prime viewing and a cascade of planets graces the night sky.
Mid-Month - The Planets
Saturn:
Our ringed planet Saturn is slowly dropping down towards the horizon this month. By mid-month, it will be low in the west southwest as the two inner planets, Mercury and Venus climb higher to meet it.
Jupiter is past its January conjunction and is slightly smaller and dimmer than it was last month. Nonetheless, it still shines brightly, high in the Feburary night sky.
Neptune and Uranus:
The blue planet Neptune can be found about half way between Jubiter and Saturn in the southern sky. Uranus cozies up to Saturn, directly above Venus and Mercury. You'll need binoculars or a small telescope to view these distant worlds.
Skywatching Highlights from February's episode.
Artemis II Scheduled Launch
NASA's Artemis II rocket enters its initial launch window this month. Following the successful uncrewed test flight of the Artemis I rocket in 2022, NASA has scheduled its first fully crewed flight of this massive spacecraft this month. The plan is for the Orion capsule, with four crew members aboard, to sail to the Moon, loop around its far side at a lunar altitude of between 3000 and 9000 miles, and then return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific ocean. This marks our first manned return to the vicinity of the Moon since the final Apollo mission in 1972.
Orion - The Hunter
Perhaps the best known and most recognizable of all the 88 constellation, Orion is optimally situated in February's night sky. The constellation, idealized as a great hunter in Greek mythology, can be found high in the southern sky all month. The three bright stars running across the middle of the constellation represent Orion's belt. Surrounding his belt stars, and forming a rectangle, are its four brightest stars - Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Rigel and Saiph (clockwise from the upper left). Lastly, dangling from his belt are what at first glance appears to be a line of three fainter stars, representing the scabbard for his sword. In reality, there are only two individual stars, the upper- and lowermost of the three. Looking closely at the center "star", you'll notice that it appears "fuzzy". That's because this is not a single star at all, but the famous Great Nebula in Orion. This massive cloud of gas and dust is shining due to the intense ultraviolet radiation being emitted by some extremely hot and massive young stars at its core.
Watch "What's Up" for February, 2026 graciously provided by the fine folks at NASA and JPL.