If you live in the northern hemisphere, look to the western skies this month, and again in March: there will be some night-sky wonders to view with the naked eye (binoculars will enable a better view, but do not look at the sunset with binoculars: their lenses will focus the sun’s rays and your eyes could be seriously damaged!).

Image credit: inertz.org

During February and March this year, Venus and Jupiter (the most brilliant planets in our night sky) will be the first ‘stars’ to appear in the evening (Venus will be below Jupiter in the western sky).

If you look into the night sky on February 24, you will be able to draw an imaginary line from Jupiter through Venus, past the moon, to Mercury, which should be close to the horizon just after sunset (a little more or less than 30 minutes).

The crescent moon will pass very close to Venus on February 24, 25, and 26.

On February 25 and 26, Jupiter and Venus will be close to the crescent moon in the west and the three spheres will form a tight triangle.

In mid-March (12-15) Venus will be at its highest point in the western sky at sunset; and  it will be bright, and very close to Jupiter (Venus and Jupiter are in conjuction on March 15).

For more information, check out this video