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Mercury shines in the eastern morning sky

Saskatchewan Skies
James Edgar

The moon begins the year only two days away from full phase. Jupiter is a mere five degrees away Feb. 4, making a delightful photographic pairing among the stars of the eastern sky. Feb. 12, Saturn is two degrees south of the last-quarter moon; Feb. 17 Mercury is close by Luna's thin sliver in the early morning eastern sky; and Feb. 21 brings Mars, Venus and Uranus into a tight quartet. In fact, Uranus will be occulted for viewers in most of the United States, Mexico, and Polynesia. By Feb. 25, the bright star Aldebaran is within one degree, another occultation for northwestern Canada.

Mercury shines in the eastern morning sky for most of the month in a favourable apparition for southern observers. Watch for the nearby moon Feb. 17.

Venus shines in the west at dusk, gradually moving further away from the sun as the month progresses. Watch for the quartet lineup mentioned above on the evening of Feb. 20 and 21 — first Venus then Mars cozy up to the moon, with Uranus a faint blip nearby.

Mars is low in the western evening sky, joining Venus, Uranus and the moon Feb. 20. Mars is following proper motion during the month, meaning that it moves eastward among the background stars.

Jupiter rises at sundown and crosses the sky all through the night. The giant gas planet is well placed for northern viewers, so presents a great opportunity to follow the Galilean moons in their daily motions. These fours moons, first discovered by Galileo in 1610, can often be seen crossing the face of Jupiter. This year, in particular, they present numerous eclipses and occultations of one moon with another. See www.rasc.ca/handbook/supplements for a list of events.

Saturn is well placed in the eastern dawn sky. Watch for the moon nearby Feb. 12.

Uranus is low in the western evening sky, joining up with Mars, Venus and the moon Feb. 21. Even though binoculars or a small telescope is necessary to properly view Uranus, it's worthwhile making the effort to view the distinct blue-green globe in the black sky.

Neptune rapidly disappears into the sun's glare early in the month; conjunction is Feb. 25.

Watch for the Zodiacal Light in the western evening twilight during the first half of February.

— James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the society’s president, assistant editor and a contributor to the Observer’s Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.