On February evenings, our sky is filed with more brilliant stars than we can see in any other month.
The first signs of spring are now on the way, well as far as the night sky in concerned. The winter star patterns, Orion, Taurus and Gemini, are drifting westward as a result of our annual orbit around the Sun. Leo and Bootes are rising higher in the east.
The Plough is now higher in the north east, with its handle pointing in the general direction of the horizon. If you follow the curve of the handle you will come to a bright orange star low in the sky. This is Arcturus in the constellation of Bootes. Arcturus is the brightest star in the spring sky.
The ‘W’ of Cassiopeia is high in the north west.
Orion still dominates the southern part of the sky. However, as Orion is a little to the west of south, now is the best time to see Sirius the Dog Star. This is the brightest star in the sky. Using the three stars that form Orion’s belt to form a line, continue down that line and you will reach Sirius.
The stars are a very long way away. Sirius, although the brightest, is in fact very close to us, at around 8.5 light years away.
The other winter stars, Aldebaran and the Seven Sisters in Taurus are now starting to get lower in the west, while Castor and Pollux together with Procyon are now at their highest points. Capella is still high, being just past the overhead position. However, while Capella is very high, Vega, which occupied the overhead point in summer, is now at its lowest, close to the northern horizon.
The Planets:-
MERCURY
The innermost planet appears low in the evening sky towards the latter part of February. With a magnitude of –1.2 it will be setting about 7pm. On the 24th and 25 of the month Mercury can be found to the right of fainter Saturn.
VENUS
Reaching its maximum brilliance of magnitude –4.9 on 19th of the month, the evening star dazzles in the sky this month. Falling below the horizon at 9pm, Venus forms a lovely sight with the crescent Moon on 1st February. Viewed through a telescope or a good pair of binoculars Venus appears as a narrowing crescent.
MARS
The red planet has been a ruby jewel companion to the two main stars in the constellation Gemini; Castor and Pollux for some time now and continues to do so this month. Mars is shinning at magnitude –1.1at the start of the month it fades to magnitude –0.3 by the months end. Mars is visible until around 4am. The Moon is very near to the red planet on 9th February.
JUPITER
The gas giant is prominent against its nearest stars, shinning at magnitude –2.4. Located in the constellation of Taurus, near the red star Aldebaran. It will be visible until around 3am. On the 6th of this month the half Moon will be passing by Jupiter.
SATURN
At the beginning of this month the ringed world lies below Venus in the constellation of Aquarius. Shinning at magnitude +1.1 it will be falling below the horizon about 8pm. However by the end of the month it will have disappeared into the evening twilight glow. If you have a telescope take the opportunity to observe its famous rings. They are almost edge on to us. We are currently seeing them from the northern side, but when Saturn reappears from behind the Sun in May, we will be viewing the rings from underneath.
URANUS
This distant world is just on the edge of naked eye visibility at magnitude +5.8. It is usually difficult to identify among the background stars. This month Uranus lies at the border of the constellation of Aries and Taurus. It falls bellow the horizon around 1.30am.
NEPTUNE
The outermost planet can be found in the constellation of Pisces this month and sets below the horizon about 8pm. Shinning at a dim magnitude of +7.8 you will need binoculars or a telescope to see it. There will be an easy chance to find it on 1st February, when Neptune forms the corner of a triangle with Venus and the half Moon.
PLUTO
This distant planet is located in the constellation of Capricornus. At magnitude +14.5 it will be below the horizon during the hours of darkness this month.
CERES
The largest body in the asteroid belt can be located in the constellation of
Aquarius. At magnitude +9.0, it will be below the horizon during the hours of darkness this month.
Highlights of the month:-
1st February – The narrow crescent Moon lies close to Venus in the evening sky, with Neptune nearby and Saturn below.
6th February – The half Moon is just to the right of bright Jupiter in the constellation of Taurus.
9th February – The Moon skims past Mars at a distance of only 7 arcminutes, with the twin stars Castor
and Pollux nearby.
12th February – The full Moon is near the star Regulus.
19th February – Venus appears at its brightest in the evening sky this year.
21st February – The half Moon is near the red star Antares after midnight.
24th and 25th February – Mercury passes passes just to the right of Saturn
Phases of the Moon this month are:-
First quarter 5th February
Full Moon 12th February
Last quarter 20th February
New Moon 28th February