What to observe in the sky in February 2026 with a smart telescope.
26 Jan. 2026
February 2026 astronomical calendar
It is recommended to observe nebulae and galaxies when the Moon is not visible. Its brightness diminishes the darkness of the sky and reduces the quality of observations of faint and diffuse objects.
Refer to the following calendar for the best days this month.
- February 1: Full Moon
- February 9: Last Quarter
- February 17: New Moon
- February 24: First Quarter
Celestial Scene of the Month
Northern sky
The Jellyfish Nebula region
IC 443, the Jellyfish Nebula, is a well-known, fairly approachable target: a bright, highly textured supernova remnant in Gemini, sitting near η Geminorum (Propus).
But if you widen your field of view and give it enough integration time, the scene turns into something far richer:
- IC 443 (the Jellyfish itself): tangled, filamentary arcs and shock fronts, classic supernova-remnant texture.
- Sh2-249: a broader, fainter emission region nearby.
- vdB 75: a delicate blue reflection nebula.
- IC 444: a much subtler reflection nebula adjacent to the Jellyfish, often overlooked.
Most of this scene is emission nebula, so it benefits from being captured with a dual-band filter. But if you want a real chance of revealing the small reflection nebulae, you’ll need to remove the filter.
Southern sky
The Southern Pleiades
IC 2602, also known as the Theta Carinae Cluster, is an open star cluster in the constellation Carina. Less iconic than the famous Pleiades (M45), it still absolutely deserves a session with Vespera.
Unlike the Pleiades, this region isn’t drenched in sweeping reflection nebulosity, yet that's what makes it unique. Any faint haze here is subtle and delicate, and it sits against a rich, densely packed starfield that adds depth and scale. With so many background stars layered behind the cluster, the view takes on a striking sense of perspective.
"Plan my Night" of the month
Suggested observation program you can automate with "Plan My Night."
Give each object as much observation time as you can to get the best results.
Northern sky
The dual band filter is recommended for this plan.
Southern sky
The dual band filter is recommended for this plan.
Around the full moon
During the few nights surrounding the full moon, it's best to focus on star clusters, which are less affected by the Moon’s light pollution.
Northern sky
Kemble Cascade & NGC1502
A 3° long asterism featuring a small open cluster: the Golden Harp Cluster (about 10′ across).
Constellation : Camelopardalis
Southern sky
Jewel Box cluster
NGC 4755, Caldwell 94 - Open cluster
Constellation: Crux
magnitude: 4.2, apparent size: 10'
Bright blue-white stars dominate the view,The “jewel” effect comes from the color contrast of a orange/red supergiant embedded among the hot blue members.
Challenging Target of the Month
Northern sky
VdB 31 with Barnard 26, Barnard 27 & Barnard 28
Constellation: Auriga
vdB 31 is a small, intense splash of blue reflection nebulosity (mag. 7) wrapped around the young star AB Aurigae. What makes the scene dramatic is the neighborhood: nearby dark nebulae intrude into the field : Barnard 26,27 & 28, dense dust clouds that don’t glow, but instead erase the background starfield.
The black shapes provide the “negative space” that makes vdB 31 feel even brighter. They’re part of the same dusty complex in southern Auriga
Do not use a dual band filter.
Since it is not in the main Singularity Catalog, you'll have to create a manual target with the following coordinates :
RA: 04h 55m 46s
Dec: +30° 33′ 04″
Southern sky
The Dolphin Head Nebula
Constellation: Canis Major
Sh2-308 (from the Sharpless Catalog) is a vast, bubble-like shell, blown by the powerful stellar winds of the Wolf–Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris. It’s an extremely challenging target, and a true trophy if you manage to capture it.
Its light is spread over a large area, so the nebula’s glow is very faint and easily swallowed by the sky background. Sh2-308 is famous for its oxygen-rich, blue appearance, and a dual-band filter is usually essential if you want it to stand out, along with, of course, a truly dark sky and plenty of integration time.
Since it is not in main Singularity Catalog, you'll have to create a manual target with the following coordinates :
RA: 06h 54m 13s
Dec: −23° 55′ 42″
Magnitude and angular size reminder
