Brian Carter's February Night Sky

THE FEBRUARY NIGHT SKY

The nights are noticeable getting longer for looking at the planets and stars.

Planets

February is a good month for viewing the planets. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible for the whole of the month. Only Mercury will not be seen in February.

Mars will be visible for the first third of the night. At the start of the month it sets at 00:43 and at 23:37 by month’s end. Mars starts the month in the constellation of Aries, moving into Taurus on February 7. Its magnitude fades from 0.2 to 0.7 during the month.

Saturn will be visible for the first three quarters of the night. At the start of February it sets at 06:11 and at 04:15 by month’s end. Saturn is in the constellation of Cancer, in which it remains until September 2006. Its magnitude slightly fades from –0.2 to –0.1.

Jupiter will be visible for the last two thirds of the night. At the start of the month it rises at 00:38 and by month’s end at 22:53. Jupiter is in the constellation of Libra, in which it remains until December 2006. Its magnitude slightly increases from –2.0 to –2.2 during the month.

Venus can be seen in the morning sky. At the start of the month it rises at 04:46 and at 03:36 by month’s end. Venus is in the constellation of Sagittarius. Its magnitude starts the month at –4.5, rising to its brightest for the year at –4.6.

Mercury, although in the evening sky, is visually too close to the Sun to be seen. It will reappear in the morning sky half way through March. Mercury starts the month in the constellation of Capricornus, moving into Aquarius on February 8 and finally into Pisces on February 22.

All times are for Wellington unless otherwise stated. Other centres may vary by a few minutes.

Phases of the Moon

First Quarter – February 5 at 19:29.

Full Moon – February 13 at 17:44.

Last Quarter – February 21 at 20:17.

New Moon – February 28 at 13:31.

Diary of Astronomical Phenomena

Feb 3 Venus stationary against the background stars at 20:00, as its motion changes from a Westerly to an Easterly direction.
12 Saturn 4ºS of Moon at 04:00
13 Full Moon at 17:44.
14 Moon at apogee (furthest from the Earth) at 14:00 (Distance = 0.0027163 AU = 406,350 km).
18 Venus greatest illuminated extent at 09:00.
24 Mercury at greatest Easterly elongation from the Sun (18) at 18:00.
28 Moon at perigee (closest to the Earth) at 09:00. (Distance = 0.0023856 AU = 356,880 km).
28 New Moon at 13:31.

How To Use the Sky Charts

To use the sky chart hold it up to the sky so that the direction in which you are looking is at the lower edge of the map. For example, if you are looking at the western horizon then the map should be held so that the “WEST” label is at the lower edge. The altitude and direction of the stars and planets will then be correctly shown. The centre of the chart will be directly overhead.

* Brian Carter is the Senior Astronomer at Carter Observatory (The National Observatory of New Zealand), PO Box 2909, Wellington. (Observatory Web Site: www.CarterObservatory.org)

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