The Planets:
Mercury:  The first week of February is the best time to look for elusive Mercury.  It rises in the east around 6:30 AM and is visible only until the sun comes up.  If you have trouble finding it, look for Venus first.  Mercury will be to the lower left of Venus.

Venus:  Venus is stunning in the eastern predawn sky.  The first part of February would be a good time to compare it with Jupiter.  Look before dawn to the east to see Venus and to the west to see Jupiter.  You will note Venus is many times brighter than Jupiter.

Mars:  At the beginning of the month, Mars is slightly north of Antares, the star that is the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion.  Mars will move away from Antares into the constellation of Sagittarius.  Mars is not very bright compared to Venus which is to the lower left of Mars.

Jupiter:  Jupiter truly is the "king" of planets this month.  This planet reaches opposition on February 1 (it is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun).  For viewers, this means you can watch Jupiter all night, from the moment it rises in the east at sunset until it sets in the west at dawn.  On February 14 watch a 96% illuminated moon lead Jupiter across the sky, and on February 15, watch a 99% illuminated moon follow Jupiter across the sky.  If you have a telescope or really good binoculars, watch the four larger moons moving around the planet, sometimes in front of each other.  Jupiter begins February to the west of the constellation of Leo the Lion (look for the backward question mark forming his head), moving toward the constellation of Cancer the Crab.

Saturn:  Saturn is visible in the eastern sky in Taurus the Bull, slightly to the northwest of Orion by the time the sun sets.  Follow it across the sky until the predawn hours.  Although not as shiny bright as Venus or Jupiter, Saturn is beautiful through binoculars or a small telescope.  Saturn is fairly close to us at this time and the rings are tilted toward Earth for a breathtaking view.  On February 12, watch a 75% illuminated moon follow Saturn across the night sky!

Jupiter and The Beehive Cluster:  During February, Jupiter will move away from Leo the Lion into the constellation of Cancer the Crab.  Although not very bright, Cancer contains the beautiful Beehive Cluster, located slightly east of the center star of Cancer.  When you look at it through binoculars, it looks just like a beehive.  This cluster will be easy to find when Jupiter moves within less than 3 degrees east of it in the last days of the month.  Don't miss it!  (Remember, your fist held at arm's length is 10 degrees wide).

Constellations:  Auriga, Camelopardalis, Canis Major, Columba, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros, Pictor

Looking for a Little More?  If this Skyline whets your appetite, try this website:  skymaps.com/downloads.html.  It offers a two page pdf brochure that you can print out for free.  It has a basic skymap and short lists of visual, binocular, and small telescope objects.  It is really good--check it out!