Post by Dave Mitsky on Feb 3, 2022 8:18:30 GMT
February Celestial Calendar by Dave Mitsky
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract five hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EST)
2/1 New Moon (lunation 1226) occurs at 5:46
2/2 The periodic comet 19P/Borrelly is at perihelion (1.31 astronomical units from the Sun) today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Jupiter at 21:00
2/3 The astronomical cross-quarter day (i.e., a day halfway between a solstice and an equinox) known as Imbolc or Candlemas occurs today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Neptune at 21:00; Mercury is stationary at 22:00
2/4 Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun at 19:00
2/5 Asteroid 20 Massalia (magnitude +8.5) is at opposition in Cancer at 8:00
2/7 The Moon is 1.2 degrees south of Uranus, with an occultation occurring in the South Sandwich Islands and a portion of Queen Maud Land, at 20:00
2/8 The Lunar X (the Purbach or Werner Cross), an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to be visible at 16:44; First Quarter Moon occurs at 18:47
2/9 The Moon is 0.03 degrees north of the dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres, with an occultation occurring northern Micronesia, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, southeastern China, most of southeastern Asia, Sri Lanka, the southern portion of India, the Maldives, and the Seychelles, at 11:00
2/11 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 31" from a distance of 404,896 kilometers (251,591 miles), at 2:37
2/12 The Moon is 1.9 degrees northeast of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 4:00; Venus is at greatest brilliancy (magnitude -4.9) at 18:00
2/13 Venus is at its greatest heliocentric latitude north today; Venus is 7 degrees north of Mars at 1:00
2/16 Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 16:56; Mercury is at greatest western elongation (26 degrees) at 21:00
2/18 Mercury is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane today; the Moon is at aphelion (0.99 astronomical units from the Sun) at 10:08
2/20 The Hesiodus Sunrise Lunar Crater Ray is predicted to begin at 23:23
2/23 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 22:32
2/24 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 20:11
2/26 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 29" from a distance of 367,789 kilometers (228,533 miles), at 22:25
2/27 The Moon is 9 degrees south of Venus at 6:00; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mars at 9:00
2/28 Mercury is at aphelion today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mercury at 20:00
2/29 The Moon is 4 degrees south of Saturn at 0:00
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the open cluster NGC 3228 in Vela on February 11, 1752. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the face-on barred spiral galaxy M83 in Hydra on February 23, 1752. Johann Bode discovered the globular cluster M53 in Coma Berenices on February 3, 1775. The planetary nebula M97 in Ursa Major was discovered by Pierre François André Méchain on February 16, 1781. Caroline Herschel discovered the open cluster NGC 2360 in Canis Major on February 26, 1783. William Herschel discovered the face-on barred spiral galaxy NGC 4027 in Corvus on February 7, 1785. William Herschel’s 40-foot-focal-length telescope saw first light on February 19, 1787. Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto on February 18, 1930. James Hey detected radio waves emitted by the Sun on February 27, 1942. Gerald Kuiper discovered the Uranian satellite Miranda (magnitude +15.8) on February 16, 1948. The first pulsar, PSR B1919+21, was discovered by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish on February 24, 1967. Supernova 1987A was discovered by Ian Shelton, Oscar Duhalde, and Albert Jones on February 23, 1987.
The zodiacal light should be visible in the west after evening twilight from a dark location during the last two weeks of February. An article on the zodiacal light appears on pages 48 and 49 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope. Click on www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/zod1.htm for more on the zodiacal light.
Information on passes of the ISS, the USAF’s X-37B, the Tiangong, the HST, Starlink, and other satellites can be found at www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 27.6 days old, is illuminated 4.8%, subtends 32.0', and is located in the constellation of Sagittarius at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon attains its greatest northern declination (+26.4 degrees) for the month on February 13th and its greatest southern declination (-26.5 degrees) on February 26th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.6 degrees on February 5th and at a minimum of -5.0 degrees on February 18th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.5 degrees on February 2nd and a minimum of -6.5 degrees on December 17th. Favorable librations for the following lunar features occur on the indicated dates: Crater Goddard on February 5th, Crater Hubble on February 7th, Mare Orientale on February 18th, and Crater Carpenter on February 26th. New Moon occurs on February 1st. The Moon is at apogee on February 11th and at perigee on February 26th. The Moon is at aphelion on February 18th. The Moon lies some five degrees from the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) on February 16th and the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) on February 20th and three degrees from the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) on February 24th. The Lunar X occurs on February 8th and the Curtiss Cross on February 24th. The Hesiodus Sunrise Lunar Crater Ray is predicted to occur on February 20th. See astronomy.com/magazine/2018/11/observe-shadow-play--on-the-moon for an article on these and other lunar clair-obscur events. The 65%-illuminated waxing gibbous Moon occults Kappa1 (magnitude +4.2) and Kappa2 (magnitude +5.3) Tauri from most of Canada and the United States on the night of February 8th. The 66%-illuminated waning gibbous Moon occults Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae) on the morning of February 22nd from most of the western United States, western Canada, Mexico, and portions of Central America. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on these and other lunar occultation events. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons and www.curtrenz.com/moon06.html for Full Moon data. Go to skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/MoonMap.pdf and celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/Explore%20the%20Moon%20Map%2024%20x%2033%20RReeves-web.pdf and nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/ObserveMoon.pdf for simple lunar maps. Click on astrostrona.pl/moon-map/ for an excellent online lunar map. Visit www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start to download the free Virtual Moon Atlas. Consult time.unitarium.com/moon/where.html for current information on the Moon and www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/lunarform/lunarform.html for information on various lunar features. See svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4955 a lunar phase and libration calculator and quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/?extent=-90,-25.2362636,90,25.2362636&proj=10&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEoAsjYIHYFcA2vIBvAXwF1SizSg for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Quickmap. Click on www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2022/february for a lunar phase calendar for this month. Times and dates for the lunar crater light rays predicted to occur this month are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun subtends 32' 28'' and is located in the constellation of Capricornus at 0:00 UT on February 1st. It enters Aquarius on February 16th.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on February 1: Mercury (magnitude +1.2, 9.4", 20% illuminated, 0.72 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -4.8, 49.2", 15% illuminated, 0.34 a.u., Sagittarius), Mars (magnitude +1.4, 4.3", 96% illuminated, 2.17 a.u., Sagittarius), Jupiter (magnitude -2.0, 33.6", 100% illuminated, 5.86 a.u., Aquarius), Saturn (magnitude +0.7, 15.3", 100% illuminated, 10.90 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 19.95 a.u. on February 15th, Aries), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.81 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.4, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 35.32 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Jupiter and Neptune can be seen in the west and Uranus in the southwest in the evening sky. Uranus is in the west at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury and Saturn lie in the east and Venus and Mars in the southeast.
The Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all located in Sagittarius on February 1st. The waning crescent Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, which will be less than three degrees in altitude, are all visible in the eastern sky 30 minutes before sunrise on February 27th. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter (which lies too close to the Sun to be seen), Saturn, and Neptune span 57 degrees along the ecliptic as the month ends.
Mercury begins its best morning apparition of the year for observers in the southern hemisphere this month. It brightens to magnitude -0.1 by February 19th. The innermost planet is stationary on February 3rd and is at greatest western elongation on February 16th, when it forms an isosceles triangle with Venus and Mars. Mercury is at the descending node on February 18th and is at aphelion on February 28th. The waning crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Mercury on February 28th.
Venus decreases in angular diameter from 49 arc seconds to 32 arc seconds but increases in illumination from 15% to 37% this month. Venus shines at magnitude -4.9 when it reaches its greatest illuminated extent of 26% on February 12th. The brightest planet is at its northernmost latitude from the ecliptic plane and passes seven degrees north of Mars on February 13th. The waning crescent Moon passes nine degrees south of Venus on February 27th.
Mars lies nine degrees southwest of Venus as the month begins. That gap narrows to about seven degrees by the night of February 12th, when the two terrestrial planets straddle the Teasthingy asterism in eastern Sagittarius, and remains at about that distance for the rest of February. The waning crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Mars on February 27th.
Jupiter is visible in the early evening twilight in early February. The gas giant is only a little more than 20 degrees in altitude at sunset on February 1st. The 1.5-day old waxing crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Jupiter on February 2nd. By February 21st, Jupiter is no longer visible to the unaided eye as it heads on its way to solar conjunction in early March.
Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun on February 4th and consequently will not be visible again until late in the month.
Uranus lies approximately 11 degrees south-southeast of the second-magnitude star Hamal (Alpha Arietis) and 5 degrees north-northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Mu Ceti. It sets about 10:00 p.m. local time by the end of the month. Uranus is just 43 arc minutes east of the sixth-magnitude star 29 Arietis on February 28th. A waxing crescent Moon passes one degree south of Uranus on February 7th. Visit www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm for a finder chart.
Neptune is located about four degrees northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Phi Aquarii. It sets about three hours after the Sun in early February. The eighth planet passes just 1.5 arc minutes north of a sixth-magnitude star on February 3rd. A slender crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Neptune on that date. Neptune disappears from view by the end of the month. Browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm for a finder chart.
Finder charts for Uranus and Neptune and an article on observing the ice giants can be found at skyandtelescope.org/observing/ice-giants-neptune-and-uranus/
Click on www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ for JavaScript utilities that will illustrate the positions of the five brightest satellites of Uranus and the position of Triton, Neptune’s brightest satellite.
The dwarf planet Pluto is not visible this month.
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
The graphic at www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/planets/distance displays the apparent and comparative sizes of the planets, along with their magnitudes and distances, for a given date and time.
Comet 19P/Borrelly travels northeastward through Pisces and Aries during February. The periodic comet shines at ninth magnitude and is at perihelion on February 2nd. Comet C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) also has a brightness of ninth magnitude as it heads southwestward through Gemini. The periodic comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a tenth-magnitude object as it slides southward through Cancer. For additional information on comets visible this month, browse cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html and cobs.si/
A list of the closest approaches of comets to the Earth is posted at www.cometography.com/nearcomet.html
The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres shines at magnitude +8.5 as it heads northeastward through Taurus this month. It begins February less than a degree to the east of 13 and 14 Tauri and ends the month less than two degrees east of 37 Tauri. Asteroids brighter than magnitude +11.0 that reach opposition this month include 20 Massalia (magnitude +8.5) on February 4th, 11 Parthenope (magnitude +10.1) on February 10th, and 19 Fortuna (magnitude +10.6) on February 22th. An article on 20 Massalia, which includes a finder chart, appears on page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope. The stony asteroid will be situated just 21 arc seconds southwest of the fifth-magnitude star Pi Cancri on February 4th. Consult asteroidoccultation.com/2022_02_si.htm for information on asteroid occultation events taking place this month. Visit www.curtrenz.com/asteroids.html to learn more about a number of asteroids.
A wealth of information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at nineplanets.org/ and www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html
The major meteor showers that will occur this year are discussed at skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/best-meteor-showers-of-2022/
Information on the celestial events transpiring each week can be found at astronomy.com/skythisweek and www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
A monthly podcast on various astronomical topics is available at www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/astronomy-podcasts/
An article on observing the Moon and the visible planets in February is posted at earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
A video on the February night sky can be seen at hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/learning-resources/tonights-sky
Free star charts for the month can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and whatsouttonight.com/
A star-hop through this year's mid-February sky can be seen at www.facebook.com/Astronomical.League/photos/pcb.4812264572196330/4812260802196707
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, and 26th. Consult page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the minima. The Demon Star is at minimum brightness for approximately two hours centered at 1:42 a.m. EST on February 9th, at 10:31 p.m. EST on February 11th, and at 7:21 p.m. EST on February 14th. For more on Algol, see stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm
Data on current supernovae can be found at www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Information on observing some of the more prominent galaxies in the Messier Catalog is available at www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/
Finder charts for the Messier objects and other deep-sky objects are posted at freestarcharts.com/messier and freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic and www.cambridge.org/turnleft/seasonal_skies_january-march
Telrad finder charts for the Messier Catalog and the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are posted at www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and www.star-shine.ch/astro/messiercharts/messierTelrad.htm and sao64.free.fr/observations/catalogues/cataloguesac.pdf
Author Phil Harrington offers an excellent freeware planetarium program for binocular observers known as TUBA (Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas) at www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm
Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel are useful freeware planetarium programs that are available at stellarium.org/ and www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and telescopius.com/ and tonightssky.com/MainPage.php
Freeware sky atlases can be downloaded at www.deepskywatch.com/files/deepsky-atlas/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf and www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/observing-skills/free-mag-7-star-charts-r1021 and allans-stuff.com/triatlas/
Forty binary and multiple stars for February: 41 Aurigae, Struve 872, Otto Struve 147, Struve 929, 56 Aurigae (Auriga); Nu-1 Canis Majoris, 17 Canis Majoris, Pi Canis Majoris, Mu Canis Majoris, h3945, Tau Canis Majoris (Canis Major); Struve 1095, Struve 1103, Struve 1149, 14 Canis Minoris (Canis Minor); 20 Geminorum, 38 Geminorum, Alpha Geminorum (Castor), 15 Geminorum, Lambda Geminorum, Delta Geminorum, Struve 1108, Kappa Geminorum (Gemini); 5 Lyncis, 12 Lyncis, 19 Lyncis, Struve 968, Struve 1025 (Lynx); Epsilon Monocerotis, Beta Monocerotis, 15 (S) Monocerotis (Monoceros); Struve 855 (Orion); Struve 1104, k Puppis, 5 Puppis (Puppis)
Notable carbon star for February: BL Orionis (Orion)
Fifty deep-sky objects for February: NGC 2146, NGC 2403 (Camelopardalis); M41, NGC 2345, NGC 2359, NGC 2360, NGC 2362, NGC 2367, NGC 2383 (Canis Major); M35, NGC 2129, NGC 2158, NGC 2266, NGC 2355, NGC 2371-72, NGC 2392, NGC 2420 (Gemini); NGC 2419 (Lynx); M50, NGC 2232, NGC 2237, NGC 2238, NGC 2244, NGC 2245, NGC 2251, NGC 2261, NGC 2264, NGC 2286, NGC 2301, NGC 2311, NGC 2324, NGC 2335, NGC 2345, NGC 2346, NGC 2353 (Monoceros); NGC 2169, NGC 2174, NGC 2194 (Orion); M46, M47, M93, Mel 71, NGC 2421, NGC 2423, NGC 2438, NGC 2439, NGC 2440, NGC 2467, NGC 2506, NGC 2509 (Puppis)
Top ten binocular deep-sky objects for February: M35, M41, M46, M47, M50, M93, NGC 2244, NGC 2264, NGC 2301, NGC 2360
Top ten deep-sky objects for February: M35, M41, M46, M47, M50, M93, NGC 2261, NGC 2362, NGC 2392, NGC 2403
Challenge deep-sky object for February: IC 443 (Gemini)
The objects listed above are located between 6:00 and 8:00 hours of right ascension.
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract five hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EST)
2/1 New Moon (lunation 1226) occurs at 5:46
2/2 The periodic comet 19P/Borrelly is at perihelion (1.31 astronomical units from the Sun) today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Jupiter at 21:00
2/3 The astronomical cross-quarter day (i.e., a day halfway between a solstice and an equinox) known as Imbolc or Candlemas occurs today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Neptune at 21:00; Mercury is stationary at 22:00
2/4 Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun at 19:00
2/5 Asteroid 20 Massalia (magnitude +8.5) is at opposition in Cancer at 8:00
2/7 The Moon is 1.2 degrees south of Uranus, with an occultation occurring in the South Sandwich Islands and a portion of Queen Maud Land, at 20:00
2/8 The Lunar X (the Purbach or Werner Cross), an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to be visible at 16:44; First Quarter Moon occurs at 18:47
2/9 The Moon is 0.03 degrees north of the dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres, with an occultation occurring northern Micronesia, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, southeastern China, most of southeastern Asia, Sri Lanka, the southern portion of India, the Maldives, and the Seychelles, at 11:00
2/11 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 31" from a distance of 404,896 kilometers (251,591 miles), at 2:37
2/12 The Moon is 1.9 degrees northeast of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 4:00; Venus is at greatest brilliancy (magnitude -4.9) at 18:00
2/13 Venus is at its greatest heliocentric latitude north today; Venus is 7 degrees north of Mars at 1:00
2/16 Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 16:56; Mercury is at greatest western elongation (26 degrees) at 21:00
2/18 Mercury is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane today; the Moon is at aphelion (0.99 astronomical units from the Sun) at 10:08
2/20 The Hesiodus Sunrise Lunar Crater Ray is predicted to begin at 23:23
2/23 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 22:32
2/24 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 20:11
2/26 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 29" from a distance of 367,789 kilometers (228,533 miles), at 22:25
2/27 The Moon is 9 degrees south of Venus at 6:00; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mars at 9:00
2/28 Mercury is at aphelion today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mercury at 20:00
2/29 The Moon is 4 degrees south of Saturn at 0:00
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the open cluster NGC 3228 in Vela on February 11, 1752. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the face-on barred spiral galaxy M83 in Hydra on February 23, 1752. Johann Bode discovered the globular cluster M53 in Coma Berenices on February 3, 1775. The planetary nebula M97 in Ursa Major was discovered by Pierre François André Méchain on February 16, 1781. Caroline Herschel discovered the open cluster NGC 2360 in Canis Major on February 26, 1783. William Herschel discovered the face-on barred spiral galaxy NGC 4027 in Corvus on February 7, 1785. William Herschel’s 40-foot-focal-length telescope saw first light on February 19, 1787. Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto on February 18, 1930. James Hey detected radio waves emitted by the Sun on February 27, 1942. Gerald Kuiper discovered the Uranian satellite Miranda (magnitude +15.8) on February 16, 1948. The first pulsar, PSR B1919+21, was discovered by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish on February 24, 1967. Supernova 1987A was discovered by Ian Shelton, Oscar Duhalde, and Albert Jones on February 23, 1987.
The zodiacal light should be visible in the west after evening twilight from a dark location during the last two weeks of February. An article on the zodiacal light appears on pages 48 and 49 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope. Click on www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/zod1.htm for more on the zodiacal light.
Information on passes of the ISS, the USAF’s X-37B, the Tiangong, the HST, Starlink, and other satellites can be found at www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 27.6 days old, is illuminated 4.8%, subtends 32.0', and is located in the constellation of Sagittarius at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon attains its greatest northern declination (+26.4 degrees) for the month on February 13th and its greatest southern declination (-26.5 degrees) on February 26th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.6 degrees on February 5th and at a minimum of -5.0 degrees on February 18th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.5 degrees on February 2nd and a minimum of -6.5 degrees on December 17th. Favorable librations for the following lunar features occur on the indicated dates: Crater Goddard on February 5th, Crater Hubble on February 7th, Mare Orientale on February 18th, and Crater Carpenter on February 26th. New Moon occurs on February 1st. The Moon is at apogee on February 11th and at perigee on February 26th. The Moon is at aphelion on February 18th. The Moon lies some five degrees from the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) on February 16th and the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) on February 20th and three degrees from the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) on February 24th. The Lunar X occurs on February 8th and the Curtiss Cross on February 24th. The Hesiodus Sunrise Lunar Crater Ray is predicted to occur on February 20th. See astronomy.com/magazine/2018/11/observe-shadow-play--on-the-moon for an article on these and other lunar clair-obscur events. The 65%-illuminated waxing gibbous Moon occults Kappa1 (magnitude +4.2) and Kappa2 (magnitude +5.3) Tauri from most of Canada and the United States on the night of February 8th. The 66%-illuminated waning gibbous Moon occults Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae) on the morning of February 22nd from most of the western United States, western Canada, Mexico, and portions of Central America. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on these and other lunar occultation events. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons and www.curtrenz.com/moon06.html for Full Moon data. Go to skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/MoonMap.pdf and celestron-site-support-files.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/support_files/Explore%20the%20Moon%20Map%2024%20x%2033%20RReeves-web.pdf and nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/ObserveMoon.pdf for simple lunar maps. Click on astrostrona.pl/moon-map/ for an excellent online lunar map. Visit www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start to download the free Virtual Moon Atlas. Consult time.unitarium.com/moon/where.html for current information on the Moon and www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/lunarform/lunarform.html for information on various lunar features. See svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4955 a lunar phase and libration calculator and quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/?extent=-90,-25.2362636,90,25.2362636&proj=10&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEoAsjYIHYFcA2vIBvAXwF1SizSg for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Quickmap. Click on www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2022/february for a lunar phase calendar for this month. Times and dates for the lunar crater light rays predicted to occur this month are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun subtends 32' 28'' and is located in the constellation of Capricornus at 0:00 UT on February 1st. It enters Aquarius on February 16th.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on February 1: Mercury (magnitude +1.2, 9.4", 20% illuminated, 0.72 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -4.8, 49.2", 15% illuminated, 0.34 a.u., Sagittarius), Mars (magnitude +1.4, 4.3", 96% illuminated, 2.17 a.u., Sagittarius), Jupiter (magnitude -2.0, 33.6", 100% illuminated, 5.86 a.u., Aquarius), Saturn (magnitude +0.7, 15.3", 100% illuminated, 10.90 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 19.95 a.u. on February 15th, Aries), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.81 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.4, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 35.32 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Jupiter and Neptune can be seen in the west and Uranus in the southwest in the evening sky. Uranus is in the west at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury and Saturn lie in the east and Venus and Mars in the southeast.
The Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all located in Sagittarius on February 1st. The waning crescent Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, which will be less than three degrees in altitude, are all visible in the eastern sky 30 minutes before sunrise on February 27th. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter (which lies too close to the Sun to be seen), Saturn, and Neptune span 57 degrees along the ecliptic as the month ends.
Mercury begins its best morning apparition of the year for observers in the southern hemisphere this month. It brightens to magnitude -0.1 by February 19th. The innermost planet is stationary on February 3rd and is at greatest western elongation on February 16th, when it forms an isosceles triangle with Venus and Mars. Mercury is at the descending node on February 18th and is at aphelion on February 28th. The waning crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Mercury on February 28th.
Venus decreases in angular diameter from 49 arc seconds to 32 arc seconds but increases in illumination from 15% to 37% this month. Venus shines at magnitude -4.9 when it reaches its greatest illuminated extent of 26% on February 12th. The brightest planet is at its northernmost latitude from the ecliptic plane and passes seven degrees north of Mars on February 13th. The waning crescent Moon passes nine degrees south of Venus on February 27th.
Mars lies nine degrees southwest of Venus as the month begins. That gap narrows to about seven degrees by the night of February 12th, when the two terrestrial planets straddle the Teasthingy asterism in eastern Sagittarius, and remains at about that distance for the rest of February. The waning crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Mars on February 27th.
Jupiter is visible in the early evening twilight in early February. The gas giant is only a little more than 20 degrees in altitude at sunset on February 1st. The 1.5-day old waxing crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Jupiter on February 2nd. By February 21st, Jupiter is no longer visible to the unaided eye as it heads on its way to solar conjunction in early March.
Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun on February 4th and consequently will not be visible again until late in the month.
Uranus lies approximately 11 degrees south-southeast of the second-magnitude star Hamal (Alpha Arietis) and 5 degrees north-northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Mu Ceti. It sets about 10:00 p.m. local time by the end of the month. Uranus is just 43 arc minutes east of the sixth-magnitude star 29 Arietis on February 28th. A waxing crescent Moon passes one degree south of Uranus on February 7th. Visit www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm for a finder chart.
Neptune is located about four degrees northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Phi Aquarii. It sets about three hours after the Sun in early February. The eighth planet passes just 1.5 arc minutes north of a sixth-magnitude star on February 3rd. A slender crescent Moon passes four degrees south of Neptune on that date. Neptune disappears from view by the end of the month. Browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm for a finder chart.
Finder charts for Uranus and Neptune and an article on observing the ice giants can be found at skyandtelescope.org/observing/ice-giants-neptune-and-uranus/
Click on www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ for JavaScript utilities that will illustrate the positions of the five brightest satellites of Uranus and the position of Triton, Neptune’s brightest satellite.
The dwarf planet Pluto is not visible this month.
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
The graphic at www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/planets/distance displays the apparent and comparative sizes of the planets, along with their magnitudes and distances, for a given date and time.
Comet 19P/Borrelly travels northeastward through Pisces and Aries during February. The periodic comet shines at ninth magnitude and is at perihelion on February 2nd. Comet C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) also has a brightness of ninth magnitude as it heads southwestward through Gemini. The periodic comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a tenth-magnitude object as it slides southward through Cancer. For additional information on comets visible this month, browse cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html and cobs.si/
A list of the closest approaches of comets to the Earth is posted at www.cometography.com/nearcomet.html
The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres shines at magnitude +8.5 as it heads northeastward through Taurus this month. It begins February less than a degree to the east of 13 and 14 Tauri and ends the month less than two degrees east of 37 Tauri. Asteroids brighter than magnitude +11.0 that reach opposition this month include 20 Massalia (magnitude +8.5) on February 4th, 11 Parthenope (magnitude +10.1) on February 10th, and 19 Fortuna (magnitude +10.6) on February 22th. An article on 20 Massalia, which includes a finder chart, appears on page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope. The stony asteroid will be situated just 21 arc seconds southwest of the fifth-magnitude star Pi Cancri on February 4th. Consult asteroidoccultation.com/2022_02_si.htm for information on asteroid occultation events taking place this month. Visit www.curtrenz.com/asteroids.html to learn more about a number of asteroids.
A wealth of information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at nineplanets.org/ and www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html
The major meteor showers that will occur this year are discussed at skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/best-meteor-showers-of-2022/
Information on the celestial events transpiring each week can be found at astronomy.com/skythisweek and www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
A monthly podcast on various astronomical topics is available at www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/astronomy-podcasts/
An article on observing the Moon and the visible planets in February is posted at earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
A video on the February night sky can be seen at hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/learning-resources/tonights-sky
Free star charts for the month can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and whatsouttonight.com/
A star-hop through this year's mid-February sky can be seen at www.facebook.com/Astronomical.League/photos/pcb.4812264572196330/4812260802196707
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, and 26th. Consult page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the minima. The Demon Star is at minimum brightness for approximately two hours centered at 1:42 a.m. EST on February 9th, at 10:31 p.m. EST on February 11th, and at 7:21 p.m. EST on February 14th. For more on Algol, see stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm
Data on current supernovae can be found at www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Information on observing some of the more prominent galaxies in the Messier Catalog is available at www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/
Finder charts for the Messier objects and other deep-sky objects are posted at freestarcharts.com/messier and freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic and www.cambridge.org/turnleft/seasonal_skies_january-march
Telrad finder charts for the Messier Catalog and the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are posted at www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and www.star-shine.ch/astro/messiercharts/messierTelrad.htm and sao64.free.fr/observations/catalogues/cataloguesac.pdf
Author Phil Harrington offers an excellent freeware planetarium program for binocular observers known as TUBA (Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas) at www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm
Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel are useful freeware planetarium programs that are available at stellarium.org/ and www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and telescopius.com/ and tonightssky.com/MainPage.php
Freeware sky atlases can be downloaded at www.deepskywatch.com/files/deepsky-atlas/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf and www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/observing-skills/free-mag-7-star-charts-r1021 and allans-stuff.com/triatlas/
Forty binary and multiple stars for February: 41 Aurigae, Struve 872, Otto Struve 147, Struve 929, 56 Aurigae (Auriga); Nu-1 Canis Majoris, 17 Canis Majoris, Pi Canis Majoris, Mu Canis Majoris, h3945, Tau Canis Majoris (Canis Major); Struve 1095, Struve 1103, Struve 1149, 14 Canis Minoris (Canis Minor); 20 Geminorum, 38 Geminorum, Alpha Geminorum (Castor), 15 Geminorum, Lambda Geminorum, Delta Geminorum, Struve 1108, Kappa Geminorum (Gemini); 5 Lyncis, 12 Lyncis, 19 Lyncis, Struve 968, Struve 1025 (Lynx); Epsilon Monocerotis, Beta Monocerotis, 15 (S) Monocerotis (Monoceros); Struve 855 (Orion); Struve 1104, k Puppis, 5 Puppis (Puppis)
Notable carbon star for February: BL Orionis (Orion)
Fifty deep-sky objects for February: NGC 2146, NGC 2403 (Camelopardalis); M41, NGC 2345, NGC 2359, NGC 2360, NGC 2362, NGC 2367, NGC 2383 (Canis Major); M35, NGC 2129, NGC 2158, NGC 2266, NGC 2355, NGC 2371-72, NGC 2392, NGC 2420 (Gemini); NGC 2419 (Lynx); M50, NGC 2232, NGC 2237, NGC 2238, NGC 2244, NGC 2245, NGC 2251, NGC 2261, NGC 2264, NGC 2286, NGC 2301, NGC 2311, NGC 2324, NGC 2335, NGC 2345, NGC 2346, NGC 2353 (Monoceros); NGC 2169, NGC 2174, NGC 2194 (Orion); M46, M47, M93, Mel 71, NGC 2421, NGC 2423, NGC 2438, NGC 2439, NGC 2440, NGC 2467, NGC 2506, NGC 2509 (Puppis)
Top ten binocular deep-sky objects for February: M35, M41, M46, M47, M50, M93, NGC 2244, NGC 2264, NGC 2301, NGC 2360
Top ten deep-sky objects for February: M35, M41, M46, M47, M50, M93, NGC 2261, NGC 2362, NGC 2392, NGC 2403
Challenge deep-sky object for February: IC 443 (Gemini)
The objects listed above are located between 6:00 and 8:00 hours of right ascension.