From Jupiter to Mercury: the brightest planets of February 2026

A glowing strip of the Milky Way galaxy is seen in a dark gray and purple starry night sky overlooking a lake surrounded by silhouetted jagged peaks on all sides with a glowing bright dot in the center of the image casting a yellow column of light on the dark water.

The two planets that are in prime position for evening visibility this month are, ironically, the two planets on opposite ends of the spectrum concerning size. The solar system's biggest planet, Jupiter, is in excellent position for observation this month of February, high in the east-southeast sky at nightfall and soaring high into the sky during the mid-to-late evening hours. Meanwhile, the smallest planet — Mercury — will enjoy its finest evening apparition, readily available to those who seek it out about three-quarters of an hour after sunset, low in the west-southwest sky, for a three-week interval beginning on Feb. 6.

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(Image credit: Celestron)

The Celestron NexStar 8SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 8SE review.