Jupiter, king of our Solar System’s planets, continues to dominate the night sky in February. Lying inside the zodiac constellation Gemini (twins), which sits well up in the eastern sky, it is the brightest object there and cannot be missed. Jupiter is visible all night. Look for the gibbous Moon just above Jupiter on February 27th.
Saturn is gradually getting harder to see but may be viewed with several other planets in the western sky shortly after sunset in the first half of February. Look for the ringed planet about 35 degrees above the horizon in the first two weeks of the month. But on February 18th a nice grouping of objects occurs.
On February 18th Saturn will be the highest; 30 degrees above the western horizon. Mercury will be 15 degrees below the ringed planet, with the slim crescent Moon just to its left. And very close to the horizon and below Mercury, Venus, the brightest of all these objects may be seen, especially for sky-watchers who have a good clear view right down to the western horizon.
In the latter half of February both Saturn and Mercury will appear to swing down toward the Sun with Mercury disappearing by March. Saturn will be even harder to see in March and will be lost in the glare of the Sun by month’s end. Venus however, will gradually appear to appear higher toward March. Mars remains invisible to us again this month.
February 2nd is the exact mid-point between the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter, and the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring. Despite whatever the Ground Hog sees this day; shadow or nor shadow, spring is still 6 weeks away. However the night sky offers a hint of springs arrival in mid-February. Looking east around 8 or 9 pm Zodiac constellation Leo the lion pushes its backwards question mark shape into the sky. Leo lies high in the south in April and May. In February we see the front of Leo as the promise of spring to come!
Look for the waxing crescen tMoon very close to the Pleiades open star cluster on February 23rd Binoculars should show both in the same field of view. Also look for an early Full Moon this February; on February 1st.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.
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