Constellations by month

Constellations of February

The eight constellations at their best in February are Auriga, Camelopardalis, Canis Major, Columba, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros and Pictor. The charts show the whole sky at 9 pm on February 15 from 40°N and 35°S. The alpha Centaurids peaks this month.

The sky at 9 pm in mid-February from 40°N CAMELOPARDALIS AURIGA GEMINI MONOCEROS CANIS MAJOR LEPUS COLUMBA HYDRA URSA MAJOR CETUS ERIDANUS DRACO LEO PISCES TAURUS ANDROMEDA PERSEUS CASSIOPEIA ORION CEPHEUS LYNX CANCER CANES VENATICI ARIES COMA BERENICES SEXTANS URSA MINOR LEO MINOR PYXIS LACERTA CANIS MINOR TRIANGULUM N S E W
From 40°N (the United States, southern Europe, northern China, Japan). North at top; turn the chart so the direction you face is at the bottom.
The sky at 9 pm in mid-February from 35°S AURIGA GEMINI MONOCEROS CANIS MAJOR LEPUS COLUMBA PICTOR HYDRA CETUS ERIDANUS CENTAURUS LEO TAURUS ORION CANCER VELA CARINA SCULPTOR PHOENIX ARIES FORNAX PAVO SEXTANS TUCANA INDUS OCTANS CRATER HOROLOGIUM HYDRUS ANTLIA PYXIS APUS CORVUS CANIS MINOR DORADO MENSA MUSCA CHAMAELEON TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE CIRCINUS CRUX S N W E
From 35°S (Sydney, Cape Town, Buenos Aires). South at top; the center is overhead and the rim is the horizon.

Bright lines and names: constellations at their best in February. Gold dashes: the ecliptic, where the Moon and planets travel. 9 pm local standard time on February 15; the same view comes an hour earlier at the end of the month and an hour later at the start. Click a name to open its chart.

Auriga, Camelopardalis, Canis Major, Columba, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros and Pictor are at their best in February

A constellation is at its best when it stands highest in the evening, due south from the northern hemisphere or due north from the southern. The last two columns give its height above the horizon at 9 pm in mid-February.

ConstellationMeaningHemisphereBrightest starMessierAt 40°NAt 35°S
AurigaCharioteerNorthernCapella376°16°
CamelopardalisGiraffeNorthernBeta Cam57°below horizon
Canis MajorGreater DogSouthernSirius124°81°
ColumbaDoveSouthernPhact10°78°
GeminiTwinsNorthernPollux172°31°
LepusHareSouthernAmeb124°76°
MonocerosUnicornNorthernBeta Monocerotis142°58°
PictorPainter's EaselSouthernAlpha Pictorisbelow horizon70°

Constellations more than 20° high at 9 pm in February

Measured at the center of each constellation. Large constellations can be partly visible when their center is lower.

From 40°N: 22 constellations

From 35°S: 35 constellations

Meteor showers peaking in February

Rates are the zenithal hourly rate, the count one observer would see under a dark sky with the radiant overhead; real counts are lower. Peak dates move by about a day from year to year.

ShowerPeakActiveRate per hourRadiantParent body
alpha CentauridsFeb 8Jan 31 - Feb 206Centaurus
Alpha AurigidsFeb 5Auriga
Northern delta LeonidsFeb 23Leo

Video: February stargazing

February Stargazing: Constellations · Watch on YouTube

Constellations month by month

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