Winter has always been the prime season for stargazing, and this year February’s sky is especially lively. Highlights include the Moon pairing with the first-magnitude star Antares, a close encounter between Neptune and Saturn, Mercury reaching greatest eastern elongation, and, later in the month, a rare sight of Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and a crescent Moon aligned together in the western sky—an unmissable spectacle for anyone who looks up.February nights are rich in bright stars, making it one of the best times of the year to identify constellations. Aldebaran in Taurus, Rigel in Orion, Capella in Auriga, Pollux in Gemini, Procyon in Canis Minor, and Sirius—the brightest star in the night sky—together outline the famous “Winter Hexagon.” Adding Betelgeuse inside the hexagon, this pattern includes nearly half of all first-magnitude stars visible in the sky. For a quick introduction to these winter stars, visitors can attend the free constellation-guiding sessions held every Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Taipei Astronomical Museum’s Dome Theater.A series of exciting astronomical events will unfold throughout February. On the morning of the 11th (Wednesday), before dawn, the “Antares–Moon conjunction” will occur, with the crescent Moon passing within about 3 degrees of Antares, the red first-magnitude star in Scorpius. Around 5 a.m., this graceful red-star-and-Moon pairing can be admired low in the eastern sky. On the 16th (Monday), “Neptune conjunct Saturn” will take place, with the two planets separated by less than 1 degree. Although Neptune is faint at about magnitude 8 and invisible to the naked eye, observers can use Saturn as a guide and try spotting this distant, pale-blue planet with binoculars or a small telescope. On the 20th (Friday), Mercury will reach “greatest eastern elongation,” shining at magnitude –0.5 and standing 18.1 degrees from the Sun. This is one of the few good opportunities this year to observe Mercury after sunset; in the days around this date, observers with a clear view of the western horizon may be able to spot the innermost planet with the naked eye during twilight.The most eye-catching celestial scene of February will appear on the evenings of the 19th and 20th. Brilliant Venus (magnitude –3.9), Mercury, Saturn, and a slender crescent Moon will line up together in the western sky—a rare and unforgettable sight, whether viewed with the naked eye or captured with a camera. For detailed astronomical information, please visit the Taipei Astronomical Museum website.