The 'Mars Triangle' meets the 'Winter Triangle' in the night sky: How to witness this beautiful celestial event

Mars Triangle and Winter Triangle Illuminate February’s Night Sky. (Image: AI generated)

February’s night sky offers a celestial treat for stargazers. Two distinct triangles shine bright, adding wonder to the season. The well-known Winter Triangle remains a staple, while a temporary Mars Triangle adds intrigue.

The Winter Triangle is a familiar sight in February. It consists of three bright stars from different constellations. Sirius, the brightest, belongs to Canis Major, the Big Dog. Procyon, in Canis Minor, appears before Sirius in the sky. The third star, Betelgeuse, is in Orion the Hunter. This trio forms a nearly perfect triangle in the southeast. By 9 p.m., it reaches its highest point. By 2 a.m., it starts setting in the west.

In the coming weeks, Mars will create an almost perfect isosceles triangle with Pollux and Castor, the bright stars marking the heads of Gemini. This alignment will be visible on 24 February. (Image: Joe Rao utilizing Starry Night Pro 8.0 software)

Mars Triangle appears for a short time
A second triangle is visible in the evening sky. This one includes two stars and the planet Mars. Pollux and Castor, the heads of Gemini, form its base. Mars, glowing orange, marks the peak. This Mars Triangle is only temporary. Mars’ movement will soon distort the shape. By mid-March, the triangle will disappear.

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Mars is moving against the starry background. It has been in retrograde motion since December. This means it appears to move backward in the sky. On 24 February, it will stop this motion and change direction. By April, Mars will no longer form a triangle. The planet is also getting dimmer. Right now, it ranks as the third-brightest object. By April, it will be much fainter, shining at only one-third of its current brightness.

Skywatchers still have time to admire these celestial shapes. The Winter Triangle remains a steady feature, while the Mars Triangle offers a fleeting sight.

(Inputs from Space.com)