From NightSkyInfo:
The Night Sky This Month (February 2012)
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Key Stars
The Winter Triangle formed by the stars Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris),
Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris) and Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) remains
prominent in the evening sky, throughout February. Other stars well
placed for observing are Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Aldebaran (Alpha
Tauri), both in the southwest. Castor (Alpha Geminorum) and Pollux
(Beta Geminorum), the twin stars of Gemini, are high in the south,
and at the same time orange Arcturus (Alpha Bootis) is rising on the
eastern horizon.
The Planets
Mercury
During the month's final days, Mercury, the innermost and smallest
planet of the solar system, hugs the western horizon right after
sunset. A good night to look is February 22, when a waxing crescent
Moon lies 5 degrees to Mercury's right.
Venus
Shining brilliantly in the southwestern sky soon after sunset, Venus
will immediately grab your attention. On February 1, the planet glows
at magnitude -4.1 and does not set until around 8:30 P.M. local time.
By month's end, Venus remains visible until 9:30 P.M. local time and
also shines brighter, at magnitude 4.2.
Mars
Mars pokes above the eastern horizon around 8 P.M. local time and is
well up in the south soon after midnight. The planet is on its way to
opposition next month, when it will be at its closest approach to
Earth and will reach a width of 14". Right now, the disk is less than
13"-wide, making it harder to see fine surface detail even with large
apertures.
Jupiter
The solar system's largest planet glares in the southwest during
evening, among the background stars of Aries, an inconspicuous
constellation of the zodiac located between Pisces to the west and
Taurus to the east. You will not need any help spotting Jupiter; at
magnitude -2.3 it is the second-brightest point of light in the sky
and stands out on any clear evening.
Saturn
This month, Saturn rises shortly before midnight and is 40 degrees
high in the south as dawn begins. The ringed planet resides among the
background stars of Virgo the Maiden and remains within about 5
degrees of the blue-white star Spica all month. Through a telescope,
Saturn sports an angular size of 18", while the rings span 41" and
tilt 15 degrees to our line of sight.
Uranus
Uranus lies in the same binocular field of view as Lambda Piscium,
the star that forms the southeast corner of the "Circlet" in Pisces,
and is itself an easy binocular target. The planet glows at magnitude
+5.9 and looks just like a star of that brightness. A telescope easily
reveals its 3.3"-diameter disk, which has a distinct blue-green color.
Neptune
Neptune is too deep in the solar glare and cannot be observed until
early April, when it will reappear in the morning sky.
Pluto
Pluto lies in northwestern Sagittarius and stands 30 degrees high in
the southeast shortly before dawn. The dwarf planet glows dimly at
magnitude +14, which means you will need an 8-inch telescope to have
a decent chance of spotting this glimmer of light.
Bright Asteroids
433 Eros
Asteroid 433 Eros comes to opposition (the point in its orbit that is
roughly closest to the Earth) every two to three years. Normally, it
rarely brightens above 10th magnitude, but occasionally the asteroid
comes close enough to Earth to show up through small telescopes. The
last time this happened was in 1975 and it happens again this winter,
when Eros reaches about magnitude +8.5. Eros begins the month in the
small constellation Sextans and heads south into much larger Hydra.
Wait to observe until late evening, when this region has climbed
fairly high in the south.
Bright Comets
C/2009 P1 Garradd
In early February, comet Garradd can be found in the constellation
Hercules, but by mid-month it passes the border into neighboring
Draco. According to recent reports, it should glow at 7th magnitude.
The key to finding C/2009 P1 Garradd is to start about two hours
before sunrise from a site that has an unobstructed view of the
northeastern horizon. Do not let the magnitude fool you into thinking
this will be an easy target from the city. Urban sky glow will easily
make the comet disappear.
Meteor Showers
The Virginids
The Virginids are a vast complex of a dozen or so radiants that
become active in late January and persist until mid-April, without
reaching a definite peak. Meteors from this stream appear at a slow
speed (about 20 miles per second) from a large radiant that measures
15 degrees by 10 degrees in size. Throughout February, the radiant is
located midway between the constellations Leo and Virgo and rises
around 7 P.M. local time.
Sky Events
February 1 - The Moon is 3.3 degrees south of the Pleiades at 12:42
P.M. EST.
February 7 - Mercury is in superior conjunction with the Sun. Full
Moon at 4:54 P.M. EST.
February 11 - The Moon is at perigee, the point in its orbit when it
is nearest to Earth.
February 12 - The Moon is 1.8 degrees south of Spica (Alpha Virginis)
at 7:47 A.M. EST.
February 14 - Last Quarter Moon at 12:04 P.M. EST.
February 19 - Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun.
February 21 - New Moon at 5:35 P.M. EST.
February 25 - The Moon is 3.6 degrees north of Venus at 4:44 P.M.
EST.
February 27 - The Moon is 4.3 degrees north of Jupiter at 1:16 A.M.
EST. The Moon is at apogee, the point in its orbit when it is
farthest from Earth.
February 28 - The Moon is 3.6 degrees south of the Pleiades at 8:46
P.M. EST.
February 29 - First Quarter Moon at 8:22 P.M. EST.
The Night Sky This Month (February 2012)
Learn more! Visit NightSkyInfo.com (http://www.nightskyinfo.com).
You are receiving this message because you visited us at
http://www.nightskyinfo.com and registered to receive our monthly
newsletter. If you feel you have received this issue in error, please
follow the instructions at the end of the page to unsubscribe.
Key Stars
The Winter Triangle formed by the stars Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris),
Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris) and Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) remains
prominent in the evening sky, throughout February. Other stars well
placed for observing are Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Aldebaran (Alpha
Tauri), both in the southwest. Castor (Alpha Geminorum) and Pollux
(Beta Geminorum), the twin stars of Gemini, are high in the south,
and at the same time orange Arcturus (Alpha Bootis) is rising on the
eastern horizon.
The Planets
Mercury
During the month's final days, Mercury, the innermost and smallest
planet of the solar system, hugs the western horizon right after
sunset. A good night to look is February 22, when a waxing crescent
Moon lies 5 degrees to Mercury's right.
Venus
Shining brilliantly in the southwestern sky soon after sunset, Venus
will immediately grab your attention. On February 1, the planet glows
at magnitude -4.1 and does not set until around 8:30 P.M. local time.
By month's end, Venus remains visible until 9:30 P.M. local time and
also shines brighter, at magnitude 4.2.
Mars
Mars pokes above the eastern horizon around 8 P.M. local time and is
well up in the south soon after midnight. The planet is on its way to
opposition next month, when it will be at its closest approach to
Earth and will reach a width of 14". Right now, the disk is less than
13"-wide, making it harder to see fine surface detail even with large
apertures.
Jupiter
The solar system's largest planet glares in the southwest during
evening, among the background stars of Aries, an inconspicuous
constellation of the zodiac located between Pisces to the west and
Taurus to the east. You will not need any help spotting Jupiter; at
magnitude -2.3 it is the second-brightest point of light in the sky
and stands out on any clear evening.
Saturn
This month, Saturn rises shortly before midnight and is 40 degrees
high in the south as dawn begins. The ringed planet resides among the
background stars of Virgo the Maiden and remains within about 5
degrees of the blue-white star Spica all month. Through a telescope,
Saturn sports an angular size of 18", while the rings span 41" and
tilt 15 degrees to our line of sight.
Uranus
Uranus lies in the same binocular field of view as Lambda Piscium,
the star that forms the southeast corner of the "Circlet" in Pisces,
and is itself an easy binocular target. The planet glows at magnitude
+5.9 and looks just like a star of that brightness. A telescope easily
reveals its 3.3"-diameter disk, which has a distinct blue-green color.
Neptune
Neptune is too deep in the solar glare and cannot be observed until
early April, when it will reappear in the morning sky.
Pluto
Pluto lies in northwestern Sagittarius and stands 30 degrees high in
the southeast shortly before dawn. The dwarf planet glows dimly at
magnitude +14, which means you will need an 8-inch telescope to have
a decent chance of spotting this glimmer of light.
Bright Asteroids
433 Eros
Asteroid 433 Eros comes to opposition (the point in its orbit that is
roughly closest to the Earth) every two to three years. Normally, it
rarely brightens above 10th magnitude, but occasionally the asteroid
comes close enough to Earth to show up through small telescopes. The
last time this happened was in 1975 and it happens again this winter,
when Eros reaches about magnitude +8.5. Eros begins the month in the
small constellation Sextans and heads south into much larger Hydra.
Wait to observe until late evening, when this region has climbed
fairly high in the south.
Bright Comets
C/2009 P1 Garradd
In early February, comet Garradd can be found in the constellation
Hercules, but by mid-month it passes the border into neighboring
Draco. According to recent reports, it should glow at 7th magnitude.
The key to finding C/2009 P1 Garradd is to start about two hours
before sunrise from a site that has an unobstructed view of the
northeastern horizon. Do not let the magnitude fool you into thinking
this will be an easy target from the city. Urban sky glow will easily
make the comet disappear.
Meteor Showers
The Virginids
The Virginids are a vast complex of a dozen or so radiants that
become active in late January and persist until mid-April, without
reaching a definite peak. Meteors from this stream appear at a slow
speed (about 20 miles per second) from a large radiant that measures
15 degrees by 10 degrees in size. Throughout February, the radiant is
located midway between the constellations Leo and Virgo and rises
around 7 P.M. local time.
Sky Events
February 1 - The Moon is 3.3 degrees south of the Pleiades at 12:42
P.M. EST.
February 7 - Mercury is in superior conjunction with the Sun. Full
Moon at 4:54 P.M. EST.
February 11 - The Moon is at perigee, the point in its orbit when it
is nearest to Earth.
February 12 - The Moon is 1.8 degrees south of Spica (Alpha Virginis)
at 7:47 A.M. EST.
February 14 - Last Quarter Moon at 12:04 P.M. EST.
February 19 - Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun.
February 21 - New Moon at 5:35 P.M. EST.
February 25 - The Moon is 3.6 degrees north of Venus at 4:44 P.M.
EST.
February 27 - The Moon is 4.3 degrees north of Jupiter at 1:16 A.M.
EST. The Moon is at apogee, the point in its orbit when it is
farthest from Earth.
February 28 - The Moon is 3.6 degrees south of the Pleiades at 8:46
P.M. EST.
February 29 - First Quarter Moon at 8:22 P.M. EST.
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