Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration
Astronomical Diary
Calendar of Astronomical Events FEBRUARY 2026
Date Event Time
08 α-Centaurid meteor shower (ZHR = 6) ---
11 Moon at Apogee (Distance = 404,505.017 km) 12:52 a.m.
15-21 National Astronomy Week ---
19 Conjunction of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mercury 07:03 a.m.
19 Close approach of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mercury 07:10 a.m.
19 Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky ---
20 Mercury at dichotomy 12:34 a.m
20 Mercury at greatest elongation east 01:41 a.m.
20 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn 08:03 a.m.
25 Moon at Perigee (Distance = 370,161.422 km) 07:14 a.m.
27 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter 02:24 p.m.
27 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter 03:31 p.m.
28 Planetary alignment of Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, and Venus ---
Moon Phases
Full Moon
Feb 02 06:09 AM
Last Quarter
Feb 09 08:43 PM
New Moon
Feb 17 08:01 PM
First Quarter
Feb 24 08:28 PM
Rise and Set Times of Planets
Date Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set
Feb 01 06:57 am 06:27 pm 06:51 am 06:21 pm 06:08 am 05:30 pm 03:58 pm 04:55 am* 09:10 am 09:07 pm
Feb 11 07:15 am 07:01 pm 06:56 am 06:35 pm 05:58 am 05:25 pm 03:14 pm 04:11 am* 08:34 am 10:32 pm
Feb 21 07:15 am 07:14 pm 06:59 am 06:47 pm 05:47 am 05:19 pm 02:31 pm 03:29 am* 07:58 am 07:58 pm
Feb 28 06:50 am 06:51 pm 07:00 am 06:56 pm 05:39 am 05:15 pm 02:02 pm 03:00 am* 07:33 am 07:33 pm

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

Stargazers will find February to be an ideal time to observe some of the most captivating constellations, as both the northern and southern skies feature spectacular celestial displays. Notable constellations in the north are Camelopardalis, Gemini, and Monoceros, while Canis Major, Columba, and Puppis grace the south. The prominent February constellations are positioned directly overhead at 09:00 p.m. on 15 February 2026, as shown in Figure 1. [1]
fig1
Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent February constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 February 2026 using the Stellarium software.

Gemini, the celestial twins, though modest in size, is easily recognizable by its two brightest stars, Pollux and Castor, which mark the heads of the twins. Pollux, its brightest star, is the nearest giant star to the solar system, with a magnitude of 1.14, making it the 17th brightest in the sky. Its twin, Castor, a multi-star system, has a combined magnitude of 1.58 and ranks 24th in brightness, located about 51 light-years away. Gemini is also the radiant point of the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks with up to 120 meteors per hour. Additionally, Gemini is home to several striking deep-sky objects, including the planetary nebula Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392), and the Medusa Nebula (SH 2-274) [Figure 2a], as well as the galactic supernova remnant IC 443, commonly referred to as the Jellyfish Nebula. [2,3,4]

Monoceros, Latin for ”unicorn”, is a faint constellation along the celestial equator, often overlooked due to its lack of bright stars. However, it is home to a wealth of celestial wonders. Notable among these are variable stars like V838 Monocerotis [Figure 2b], a red giant that became famous in 2002 when it briefly surged to 600,000 times the Sun’s luminosity. Monoceros also hosts Plaskett’s Star, one of the most massive binary systems known, with a combined mass of around 100 times that of the Sun, orbiting a common center of gravity every 14.4 days. Despite its dim stars, Monoceros boasts prominent deep-sky objects, including the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237-2246) and its star cluster NGC 2244, renowned for its rose-like shape. The constellation also features Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC 2261), illuminated by the variable star R Monocerotis, and the Christmas Tree Cluster with the Cone Nebula (NGC 2264) [Figure 2c]. Monoceros can be easily located by drawing an imaginary line from Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, in Canis Major, to the constellation Gemini, with Monoceros positioned roughly in between. [2,5,6,7]
fig2
Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

Canis Major is a highly prominent constellation in the night sky, distinguished by Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky observable from Earth. With an apparent magnitude of -1.46, Sirius appears as a brilliant bluish-white object and is a binary system consisting of an A-type main-sequence star and a faint white dwarf, located about 8.6 light-years away. Sirius marks a vertex of the Winter Triangle, a near-equilateral triangle formed with Betelgeuse in Orion and Procyon in Canis Minor. It is also part of the Winter Hexagon, which includes Rigel in Orion, Aldebaran in Taurus, Capella in Auriga, Pollux in Gemini, and Procyon. While Canis Major is best known for Sirius, it also contains several notable deep-sky objects. These include the open clusters Caroline’s Cluster (NGC 2360) and the Tau Canis Majoris Cluster (NGC 2362); the spiral galaxy NGC 2280 [Figure 3a] and the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, one of the Milky Way’s nearest satellite galaxies. [2,8,9]

Columba is a small but historically significant constellation in the southern sky. Its name, Latin for “the Dove,” is symbolically linked to the biblical dove of Noah, which returned with an olive branch to signal the receding of the Great Flood. Though not particularly bright, Columba contains several notable stars. Alpha Columbae (Phact), the brightest, is a bluish-white giant about 270 light-years away with an apparent magnitude of 2.65, while Beta Columbae (Wezen), a yellow-white supergiant, is the second-brightest star at magnitude 3.12, located roughly 87 light-years from Earth. The constellation also hosts several interesting deep-sky objects, including the globular cluster NGC 1851, the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1808 [Figure 3b], and the spiral galaxy NGC 1792 [Figure 3c], making Columba a modest yet meaningful presence in the southern celestial hemisphere. The constellation lies about halfway between Canopus in Carina and Rigel in Orion, the second and seventh brightest stars in the sky, respectively. [2,10,11]
fig3
Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Planetary Location

This February, Saturn and Jupiter will be prominently visible in the sky as twilight gives way to night, gradually sinking toward the western horizon, with Saturn setting earlier than Jupiter. Mercury will make a brief appearance during the third week of the month, lying low in the western sky. On the other hand, Venus and Mars will be unobservable due to their proximity to the Sun, which will obscure their visibility with its intense glare. [1]

On 19 February at 07:03 a.m., the Waning Crescent Moon and Mercury will be in conjunction, with the Moon passing 7’48” to the south of Mercury. At about the same moment, the two objects will approach closely, passing within 7.1 arcminutes of each other. Set against the background stars of Aquarius, the Moon will shine at magnitude -8.7, while Mercury will appear at magnitude -0.6. Although the exact moment of these events occurs while both objects are still below the horizon, the best opportunity to observe the pair will be around 06:40 p.m., low above the western horizon [Figure 4]. On the same day, Mercury will reach its maximum altitude in the evening sky. [12,13,14,15]
fig4
Figure 4: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mercury on 19 February at 06:40 p.m. using Stellarium.

The following day, Mercury reaches dichotomy at 12:34 a.m., appearing half illuminated, before attaining its greatest eastern elongation of 18.1° from the Sun at 01:41 a.m. during its evening apparition. Later, at 08:03 a.m., another celestial event occurs as the Moon and Saturn share the same right ascension, separated by 4°38’. The exact alignment occurs in daylight and cannot be observed due to the Sun’s glare; however, the pair can be viewed close together in the evening at about 06:45 p.m. [Figure 5]. [12,16,17]
fig5
Figure 5: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Saturn on 20 February at 06:45 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 27 February at 02:24 p.m., the Moon will pass 3°58’ north of Jupiter, aligning along the same right ascension. At 03:31 p.m., their separation narrows to 3°54’, marking their appulse or closest approach. Both in the constellation Gemini, with the Moon at -12.5 magnitude and Jupiter at -2.5, the event occurs in daylight and is unobservable, but the pair can be seen together around 06:45 p.m. [Figure 6], remaining visible until they set on the western horizon. [12,18,19]
fig6
Figure 6: The view of the night sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Jupiter on 27 February at 06:45 p.m. using Stellarium.

The dusk sky on 28 February will showcase a rare alignment of six planets [Figure 7] – Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, and Venus. Of these, only Jupiter and Saturn will be easily visible to the naked eye, while Mercury and Venus will appear very low along the western horizon. Neptune and Uranus, on the other hand, will require a modest telescope or high-powered binoculars for observation. It is important to note that planetary alignments are visual phenomena and have no direct physical effect on Earth. [1] All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using a pair of binoculars.
fig7
Figure 7: The view of the dusk sky featuring the planetary alignment of Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, and Venus on 28 February 2026 at 06:35 p.m. using Stellarium.

Meteor Shower

The α-Centaurid meteor shower is a relatively modest meteor shower, active each year from 28 January to 21 February, with its peak occurring on 08 February. Radiating from the constellation Centaurus, this shower typically produces around six (6) meteors per hour under favorable conditions, making it less prolific than major meteor showers. Despite its lower rates, it offers a rewarding experience for dedicated observers who take advantage of its best viewing hours. The optimal window for observing the α-Centaurids begins at 12:21 a.m., when the radiant rises above the eastern horizon, and continues until dawn at approximately 05:58 a.m. The radiant reaches its highest point in the sky around 05:00 a.m. [Figure 8], so the shower is likely to produce its most striking displays shortly before dawn. Observers should note that the Moon, in Virgo and approaching its last quarter phase at the peak, may brighten the pre-dawn sky and partially hinder visibility. [20]
fig8
Figure 8: The view of the southern sky during the peak of α-Centaurid meteor shower on 08 February 2026 at 05:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions.

National Astronomy Week 2026

Under Presidential Proclamation No. 130, s. 1993, the National Astronomy Week is to be celebrated every 3rd week of February. This year’s celebration will be on 15-21 February 2026, with the theme “Rising Stars: Youth Leading the Future of Philippine Astronomy”.

The theme for the 33rd National Astronomy Week (NAW) celebration highlights the Filipino youth as the driving force behind the future of Astronomy in the country. Simultaneously, the theme highlights the enduring commitment of the current Philippine Astronomy community to mentor, support, and actively shape the next generation, ensuring a strong and sustainable transition of leadership and expertise for the years to come.
fig9

Stay tuned for the celestial lineup of activities this year. For more information on NAW 2026, you may contact Engr. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos, the Chief of the Space Science and Astronomy Section, at telephone number (02) 8284-0800 local 3016, or you may email us at astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

Watch: Astronomical Events for February 2026

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/february-constellations/, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “GEMINI CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Gemini, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[4] The Constellation Directory, “Gemini” http://www.constellationdirectory.org/constellations/gemini.html, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[5] Go Astronomy, “MONOCEROS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Monoceros, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[6] The Constellation Directory, “Monoceros” http://www.constellationdirectory.org/constellations/monoceros.html, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[7] Label Stars, “Monoceros Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/monoceros-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[8] Go Astronomy, “CANIS MAJOR CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Canis%20Major, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[9] The Constellation Directory, “Canis Major” http://www.constellationdirectory.org/constellations/canis_major.html, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[10] Go Astronomy, “COLUMBA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Columba, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[11] Label Stars, “Columba Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/columba-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[12] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[13] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260218_20_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260218_15_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260219_11_101, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[16] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at dichotomy” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260219_11_103, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[17] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260220_20_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[18] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260227_20_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[19] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260227_15_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.
[20] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “α-Centaurid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260208_10_100, Last accessed on 2026-01-16, 2026.

For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

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