February new moon 2025: The young moon occults Mercury and passes by Venus

The moon enters its new phase for February 2025 tonight , leaving the skies nice and dark for observing the many bright planets currently visible in the night sky.

A new moon occurs when the sun, moon and Earth are lined up.

The crescent that appears after the February new moon on March 1 will mark the beginning of Ramadan , one of the most important periods of religious observance.

In mid-northern latitudes, by about 7 p.m. the Big Dipper will be rising in the northeast, with the "bowl" facing north (to the left), and the "handle" pointing to the horizon.

In the Southern Hemisphere , Mercury will be lost in the solar glare; it is only 7 degrees above the horizon at sunset.

In Buenos Aires , Jupiter sets at 12:03 a.m. , Mars is about 25 degrees high in the north-northwest at 8 p. m. , and sets at 2:22 a. m. on March 28 .

The Big Dippers is an asterism, a group of stars that isn't an official constellation but.

There is no equivalent of Polaris in the southern skies; one can use Crux , the Southern Cross , to point in the direction of the Southern Celestial Pole .

On Feb. 27 at about 8:30 p.m. it will be in the southwest about 39 degrees above the horizon.

The South Celestial Pole is about halfway between the two constellations.