Moon Phases
Monday, February 02, 2026
Waning Gibbous 100% illuminated
Rise: 6:03 PM
Set: 7:39 AM
Eye on the Night Sky, February 2, 2026
Monday, February 02, 2026
Today:
A fascinating, somewhat rare event happens this evening, well-timed and well-placed for viewing, if the weather cooperates. The Moon is just one day past Full as it slides in front of Leo, the Lion’s bright star, Regulus, starting near 8:50 this evening, and re-emerging between 9:50 and 10:00 PM, earliest northeast of Montpelier, and later if your location is farther west and south.
Tuesday:
A narrow window from the end of twilight to the rising of the Moon, from 6 to 7 o’clock this evening, offers a splendid view of the Milky Way arching up in the southeast, littered with the bright stars of Orion on the right, and the Twins of Gemini, the Little Dog star Procyon, and the Great Dog star Sirius on the left.
Wednesday:
In the early evening, before the Moon rises at 8:35, four brilliant stars form a diamond-shaped figure halfway up in the south-southeast early this evening. At the bottom is Sirius, the very brightest star, while the orange-hued Betelgeuse shines at the top. The bluish-white Rigel sparkles on the right, with Procyon on the left.
Start Chart:
Ground Hog Day Celestial Shadows!
The Moon passes right in front of the star Regulus during the evening of February 2nd, 2026.
The Moon will be just one day past Full when it passes between us and the star Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the Lion, often depicted as the front of his chest.
It is complicated, however.
The Earth’s rotation causes the stars, as well as the Moon, to rise higher in the east. The Moon’s orbital motion, however, goes the opposite way, with the Moon actually moving to the lower left, toward the horizon, but much, much more slowly. This means the Moon appears just above the star Regulus before 8:50 PM, and then its true motion causes it to cover Regulus from 8:53 PM to 9:58 PM. As the Moon continues its motion, Regulus re-emerges on the upper right edge of the Moon.
This event is called an “occultation”, and is quite rare when happening to a bright star. They do come in cycles though, with additional occulations of Regulus expected over the next few years.
This program is a partnership between the Fairbanks Museum and Vermont Public.