The New moon was Jan. 30, so we see only a thin slice of lunar crescent in the west at sundown Feb. 1.
Mercury shines just a few degrees below it, but you need a clear western horizon to see the fleet-footed innermost planet. By Feb. 11, the moon is right below Jupiter in the eastern evening twilight, sharing the darkness with the constellations Taurus, Orion, Canis Major, Gemini, and the six brightest stars in the night sky. They are Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon and Pollux. The moon is full Feb. 14. A few days later, in quick succession, Spica, Mars, and Saturn join with our satellite Feb. 19, 20 and 21, respectively. These events occur very late at night. Feb. 26, in the eastern morning sky, Venus and the moon are less than a degree apart.
Mercury appears low in the western evening sky, but fading fast for the first week of the month. Then, after inferior conjunction (passing in front of the sun), the speedy planet is visible in eastern mornings, hugging the horizon. You may even see it with the moon and Venus Feb. 26.
Venus is the Morning Star in February. As mentioned above, it shines alongside the moon Feb. 26. In the Indian Ocean area, this is an occultation, when the moon passes in front of the bright planet.
Mars appears late in the evening, as mentioned in the moon section above. Watch for the two bodies Feb. 19 and 20, as the moon glides by the much more distant Red Planet.
Jupiter rises in mid-afternoon and is high in the southeast at sunset, so offers a good evening observing opportunity. Use binoculars or a telescope to watch the daily dance of the four Galilean moons of the giant planet. Viewing the ever-shifting moons is like watching a small version of the Solar System in action.
Saturn and Mars are close to each other in the late evening sky, and the moon sidles up to the Ringed Planet a day after its encounter with Mars. This close approach Feb. 21 is another occultation in distant lands south of the equator (Feb. 22 Down Under).
Uranus is in the western evening sky for an hour or two after sundown. Use binoculars or a small telescope to see this distant greenish planet.
Neptune is too close to the sun for practical viewing.
In the western evening sky, look for the Zodiacal Light in the latter two weeks of the month.
- 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 assistant editor and a contributor to the Observer's Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal, and the society's national secretary. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
