Mars can be seen at sunset in the east-northeastern sky between the tips of the horns of the constellation of Taurus (the Bull). Mars begins moving eastward among the stars and will end the month above the star Betelguese in Orion (the Hunter) heading into Gemini (the Twins). Mars is very bright but slowly dims throughout the month. Mars can be seen crossing high through the southern sky and setting in the western sky before dawn. Mars looks like a bright, ruddy-colored star.

Saturn can be seen rising in the eastern sky in the constellation Leo (the Lion) just to the left (east) of the bright star Regulus (the Heart of the Lion), the tip of the backward questionmark. Saturn reaches opposition (opposite the sun in our sky) on February 24th. Saturn will rise in the east as the sun sets in the west, be on the meridian at midnight, and set in the west as the sun rises in the east. Saturn reaches its maximum brightness for 2008 by the end of the month. Saturn looks like an amber-colored star.

Venus can be seen rising in the eastern sky before dawn passing out of the constellation Sagittarius (the Archer) into Capricornus (the SeaGoat). Venus is visible for about 2 hours before sunrise at the beginning of the month, but only an hour by the end of the month. Venus passes close to Jupiter on February 1st, their closest pass until 2014. Venus looks like a very bright white star.

Jupiter can be seen rising in the southwestern sky before sunrise in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer). Jupiter can be seen for about 2 hours at the beginning of February, and for 3 hours by the end of the month as rises a little earlier each night. Jupiter looks like a bright, yellow-colored star.

Mercury cannot be seen as it reaches inferior conjunction, passing between the sun and Earth on February 6th. Mercury will return to the predawn sky by midmonth, slowly rising in the southeastern sky in the constellation Capricornus (the SeaGoat), below and to the left of Venus. Mercury looks like a small, white star.