When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.A waxing crescent moon shines in the skies over England. | Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesLook to the western horizon at sunset on Feb. 20 to witness an incredible sight, as three planets shine below the slender crescent of the waxing moon, with Jupiter glowing high overhead in the winter sky.The upturned sickle-shape of the 18%-lit moon will appear 40 degrees above the horizon as the sun sets, with a string of bright “evening stars” representing Venus, Mercury and Saturn arrayed beneath, fighting for attention in the glow of the setting sun.AdvertisementAdvertisementSaturn will be positioned 15 degrees directly below the crescent moon, with Mercury less than 10 degrees— roughly the width of your clenched fist held at arm’s length — to its lower right. Mercury is currently in prime viewing position, having just passed its point of greatest eastern elongation on Feb. 19, when it was at its furthest from the sun in Earth’s sky in its current evening apparition.Find a spot with a clear view to the west for a chance to see Venus shining directly below Mercury, less than 10 degrees above the horizon at sunset. Neptune will also be present less than 1 degree — approximately the width of your little finger — to the right of Saturn, though it’ll be too dim to spot with the naked eye.The night sky looking west after sunset on Feb. 20. | Credit: Created by Anthony Wood in CanvaNeptune is so distant that the blue spec of its disk can only be seen with the aid of an 8-inch telescope, but utmost care must be taken to ensure that the sun is well below the horizon before pointing any telescopic equipment in its direction.Uranus, meanwhile, will be five degrees below the Pleiades on Feb. 20 and while technically just bright enough to spot with the naked eye from a dark sky location, the planet will also benefit from the magnifying power of a telescope to spot its tiny aqua disk.AdvertisementAdvertisementJupiter dominates the sky th …
