In case you haven't heard, there's a lot of talk about the seven-planet parade visible in the sky this weekend, 28 February.
The prospect of seeing seven planets in the sky at once is exciting, but for some it might be a little daunting, knowing where and when to look and whether each Solar System world is really visible from their location.
Perhaps instead of trying to see as many planets as you can, it's a more rewarding exercise to spot one 'easy' planet in the night sky this week and really take it in.
One of the best planets to see at the end of February is Mars, and currently it forms a beautiful triangle the sky with the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux.
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Where and when to look
In late February 2025, you can find Mars high up in the southern sky around 20:00 UT.
A good way of finding the Red Planet currently is to first locate the constellation Orion, which is unmistakable with its three belt stars and four prominent stars forming the arms and legs of the 'hunter' that it's supposed to represent.
Find Orion, look above and to the left and you'll see a bright reddish 'star' that's visible with the naked eye.
This is Mars. You're looking at a planet to which humans have sent multiple robotic spacecraft and orbiters, and on which we've even flown a robotic helicopter.
Perhaps within our lifetime, we'll see human beings set foot on that distant red planet.
Just to the left of Mars, you should be able to see two prominent stars.
These are Castor and Pollux, which are the twin stars of the constellation Gemini.
Pollux is the brighter and lower of the two stars, and you may notice it has an orangey hue.
The sight of Orion next to the Mars-Castor-Pollux triangle is something to behold, and one of the most beautiful naked-eye stargazing sights at the moment.
A reminder that you don't need a telescope to enjoy the night sky, especially if you're a complete beginner.
But, if you do decide to do so...
Take a closer look
If you have a telescope, take a closer look at these three objects, because there's lots to see.
Castor, for example, is a multiple star system. This means that, even though it looks like a single star to the naked eye, it's actually multiple stars orbiting one another.
With a magnification of 100x, a 3-inch or larger telescope should reveal Castor as two stars: Castor A and Castor B
You may even see the dimmer third star, Castor C.
Pollux is an ageing red giant star and the closest red giant to our own Sun. It’s the brightest star in Gemini.
What's more, it has a confirmed planet in orbit around it! The planet is a gas giant twice the mass of Jupiter, and is called Thestias (although you won't be able to see that with amateur astronomy equipment).
And of course, there's plenty to see on Mars through a telescope. It reached opposition in January 2025 – the best time to see it – and is still bright and high in the sky.
Find out what to look for in our guide to observing Mars with a telescope.
If you observe or photograph Mars next to Castor and Pollux, let us know! Email contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
