Rare planet parade, full moon to light up sky above Idaho. Here’s when to watch
Out-of-this world views will greet Idaho stargazers in February.
Along with the moon’s monthly wax and wane, Idaho residents can expect to spot a six-planet parade, according to NASA.
Here’s what you can see in the sky above the Idaho:
When to watch full moon in Idaho
The second full moon of 2026 will reach peak illumination at 3:09 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, according to online clock Time and Date.
The full moon doesn’t commonly land on the first of the month. In 2026, that will only happen in February and May.
The full moon appears when its position in orbit is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. The moon is entirely visible at its peak illumination.
Why is February’s full moon called the snow moon?
February’s full moon has many names, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, including the snow moon.
The name “snow moon” refers to the large amounts of snowfall typically seen at this time of year.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Indigenous names for February’s full moon refer to everything from bird migration to food scarcity.
They include the goose moon, eagle moon, black bear moon and hungry moon.
The next new moon will appear on Feb. 17, when the moon positions itself directly in between the Earth and the sun. The moon’s face will be fully shaded from view.
Will solar eclipse be visible in Idaho?
February’s new moon coincides with the Lunar New Year — and an annular solar eclipse.
“An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and Sun, but does not completely cover the sun’s disk,” the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service said on its website. ”Instead, it covers most of the sun, leaving its outer edge visible as a bright ring or ‘annulus’ around the darkened moon.”
The so-called “ring of fire” will only be visible “across remote Antarctica and nearby ocean areas,” according to astronomy tracker Star Walk.
Parts of the world will experience a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12.
Spain, Portugal and parts of Greenland and Iceland will stand in the moon’s shadow, while “a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean,” NASA said.
The next time a solar eclipse will be visible in Idaho is January 2029, according to Time and Date.
That will be a partial solar eclipse where the moon will block 70% of the sun from view.
What’s the best way to watch parade of planets?
A rare planetary parade will march across the sky on Saturday, Feb. 28, according to NASA.
Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune will appear above Idaho shortly after sunset, the space agency said.
“While planet alignment itself isn’t unusual, what makes these events special is the opportunity to observe multiple planets simultaneously with the naked eye,” NASA said. “Lineups of four or five planet naked-eye planets with optimal visibility typically occur every few years.”
According to NASA, Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter will be “visible to the unaided eye, weather permitting.”
Those hoping to see Uranus and Neptune will still need a telescope, NASA said, noting that “Mercury can sometimes be harder to spot, too.”
The next opportunity to see this many planets at the same time won’t be until October 2028, NASA said.
Which constellations can I see in sky in February?
Although constellations are always in the sky, which star formations are visible in the Northern Hemisphere can depend on the weather and the time of year.
According to Star Walk, the following constellations will be visible in Idaho in February:
- Orion
- Canis Major
- Canis Minor
- Lepus
- Monoceros
- Taurus
- Gemini
- Auriga
