Post by Dave Mitsky on Feb 16, 2023 21:45:10 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 Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is at perigee (42,000,000 kilometers or 26,000,000 miles from the Earth) today
2/2 The astronomical cross-quarter day (i.e., a day halfway between a solstice and an equinox) known as Imbolc or Candlemas occurs today
2/3 The Moon is 1.9 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 20:00
2/4 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 24" from a distance of 406,476 kilometers (252,573 miles), at 8:55
2/5 Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 18:29
2/8 The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres is stationary at 20:00
2/11 Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passes near Mars
2/12 The Moon is at the descending node at 7:31; asteroid 2 Pallas is stationary at 20:00
2/13 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 16:01
2/14 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 4:3; the Moon is 1.8 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 19:00
2/15 Mercury is at aphelion today; Venus is 0.01 degrees south of Neptune at 12:00
2/16 Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun at 17:00
2/18 Comet C/2022 A2 (PanSTARRS) is at perihelion today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mercury at 21:00
2/19 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 33' 21" from a distance of 358,267 kilometers (222,617 miles), at 9:06
2/20 New Moon (lunation 1239) occurs at 7:06
2/21 The Moon is 2 degrees south of Neptune at 18:00
2/22 The Moon is 2 degrees south of Venus at 8:00; the Moon is 1.2 degrees south of Jupiter, with an occultation occurring in portions of western Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and southern South America, at 22:00
2/24 The Moon is at the ascending node at 18:56
2/25 The Moon is 1.3 degrees north of Uranus, with an occultation occurring in the southern half of Greenland and portions of northern Canada, at 13:00
2/27 First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:06; 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 15:15
2/28 The Moon is 1.1 degrees north of Mars, with an occultation occurring in northern Mongolia, central and northwestern Russia, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, northwestern Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, at 5:00
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 middle of February. Click on www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/zod1.htm for more on the zodiacal light.
The major meteor showers occurring this year are discussed at skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/the-best-meteor-showers-in-2023/ and amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/
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 10.5 days old, is illuminated 81.1%, subtends 30.1', and is located in the constellation of Taurus at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon attains its greatest northern declination (+27.4 degrees) for the month on February 2nd and greatest southern declination (-27.5 degrees) on February 17th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +7.3 degrees on February 25th. It’s at a minimum of -7.4 degrees on February 17th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.5 degrees on February 19th and a minimum of -6.6 degrees on December 5th. Favorable librations for the following lunar features occur on the indicated dates: Mare Australe on February 1st, Crater Malapert on February 5th, Crater Von Braun on February 16th, and Crater Neper on February 24th. New Moon occurs on February 20th. The Moon is at apogee on February 4th and at perigee on February 19th. The Moon passes near the bright open star cluster M35 in Gemini at 1:00 on February 2nd, the first-magnitude star Castor (Alpha Geminorum) at 15:00 on February 3rd, the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 21:00 on February 3rd, the bright open star cluster M44 (the Beehive or Praesepe) in Cancer at 1:00 on February 5th, the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 23:00 on February 6th, the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 9:00 on February 11th, the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 20:00 on February 14th, and the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) in Taurus at 17:00 on February 26th. The Curtiss Cross occurs on February 14th and the Lunar X on February 27th. See astronomy.com/magazine/2018/11/observe-shadow-play--on-the-moon for an article on these and other lunar clair-obscur events. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on 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. The “daily” lunar maps at www.derekscope.co.uk/moon-phases-maps-for-telescope-view/ are also very good. 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. Click on svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005000/a005048/2023_Moon_Phase_North_Up_YouTubeHD.mp4 for a remarkable lunar phase, libration, and position angle graphic for 2023. 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/2023/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 32.5 arc minutes 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 -0.2, 6.5", 66% illuminated, 1.03 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -3.9, 11.1", 91% illuminated, 1.50 a.u., Aquarius), Mars (magnitude -0.3, 10.7", 92% illuminated, 0.88 a.u., Taurus), Jupiter (magnitude -2.2, 36.1", 99% illuminated, 5.46 a.u., Pisces), Saturn (magnitude +0.8, 15.4", 100% illuminated, 10.78 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 19.83 a.u. on February 15th, Aries), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.78 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.5, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 35.66 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Mars can be seen in the south, Uranus in the southwest, and Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune in the west in the evening sky. Mars and Uranus are in the west at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury lies in the east.
The bright planets in the February sky are discussed at earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
The apparent and comparative sizes of the planets, along with their magnitudes and distances, can be determined, for a given date and time, at www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/planets/distance
The graphic at www.astroleague.org/files/outreach/NeedforTelescopes85x%2011.pdf compares the apparent sizes of the bright planets to that of the Moon.
The article at britastro.org/2018/the-size-of-things discusses the sizes and distances of the planets of the solar system and a number of other celestial bodies in terms of a scale model.
Basic astronomical data such as sunrise and sunset times, morning and evening twilight times, moonrise and moonset times, the phase of the Moon, which naked-eye planets are visible in the evening and morning skies, rise and set times for each of them can be found at skyandtelescope.org/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/skyandtelescope-coms-almanac/#
Another online data generator for various astronomical events is available at astronomynow.com/almanac/
A guide to planetary observing for the year by the British magazine The Sky at Night is posted at www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky/
An article on the planets that are visible in the morning sky this year can be seen at drive.google.com/file/d/1WYLrzS-C-K8VJCU7aNWxpl09IK7rBkqB/view
Asteroid 2 Pallas shines at magnitude +7.7 as it heads northward through Canis Major this month. The main-belt asteroid passes just to the west of the fourth-magnitude star of Xi1 Canis Majoris on February 7th, to the west of the bright open cluster M41 on February 14th and 15th, less than one degree to the west of Nu1 Canis Majoris on February 20th, and to the west of Sirius on February 25th.See asteroidoccultation.com/2023_01_si.htm for information on asteroid occultation events taking place this month. A list of the best occultations of the year can be found at www.asteroidoccultation.com/2023-BestEvents.htm
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) moves at a very speedy rate of six degrees per night as it passes closest to the Earth in early February. That rate will decrease to about three degrees per night by February 8th and about one degree per night by the end of February. It travels from Camelopardalis into Orion over the course of the month. The comet is closest to Earth and is at its brightest, about fifth magnitude, on February 1st. It passes to the west of Capella on February 6th, to the east of Mars on February 11th, and to the east of Aldebaran on February 15th. During February, Comet C/2020 V2 (ZTF) heads southward from Cassiopeia into Andromeda. This comet may brighten to magnitude +9.5. Comet 96P/Machholz may be visible in the eastern sky during morning twilight as it glides from Aquarius into Aquila in early February. Click on earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/new-comet-might-get-bright-enough-for-binoculars/ and www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/ for online articles on Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Finder charts for C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and Comet C/2020 V2 (ZTF) are available on pages 48 and 49 of the February 2023 issue of Sky & Telescope. Visit cobs.si/ and cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for information on the comets that are visible this month.
A list of the closest approaches of comets to the Earth is posted at www.cometography.com/nearcomet.html
A wealth of information on solar system celestial bodies is posted nineplanets.org/ and www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html
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 some of the astronomical events taking place in the coming year can be found at www.universetoday.com/153501/astronomy-2022-top-skywatching-events-for-the-coming-year/
Free star charts for the month can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and whatsouttonight.com/
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/photo.php?fbid=231175679261490&set=pb.100071071788695.-2207520000.&type=3
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 25th, and 28th. Algol is at minimum brightness for observers in North America for about two hours centered at 2:12 a.m. EST on February 10th (7:12 UT on February 11th), 11:02 p.m. EST on February 13th (4:02 UT on February 14th), and 7:51 p.m. EST on February 16th (0:51 UT on February 17th). Consult page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the minima. The chance of seeing Algol at least one magnitude fainter than normal on a random night is about 1 in 30. See stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm for more on Algol.
Data on current supernovae can be found at www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Information on observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies 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 are posted at www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and www.star-shine.ch/astro/messiercharts/messierTelrad.htm
Telrad finder charts for the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are available at www.saguaroastro.org/wp-content/sac-docs/Book110BestNGC.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
Some binocular deep-sky object targets for January are shown in the graphic at www.facebook.com/LibraryTelescope/photos/a.2074108879301269/4947203358658459
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 Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is at perigee (42,000,000 kilometers or 26,000,000 miles from the Earth) today
2/2 The astronomical cross-quarter day (i.e., a day halfway between a solstice and an equinox) known as Imbolc or Candlemas occurs today
2/3 The Moon is 1.9 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 20:00
2/4 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 24" from a distance of 406,476 kilometers (252,573 miles), at 8:55
2/5 Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 18:29
2/8 The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres is stationary at 20:00
2/11 Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passes near Mars
2/12 The Moon is at the descending node at 7:31; asteroid 2 Pallas is stationary at 20:00
2/13 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 16:01
2/14 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 4:3; the Moon is 1.8 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 19:00
2/15 Mercury is at aphelion today; Venus is 0.01 degrees south of Neptune at 12:00
2/16 Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun at 17:00
2/18 Comet C/2022 A2 (PanSTARRS) is at perihelion today; the Moon is 4 degrees south of Mercury at 21:00
2/19 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 33' 21" from a distance of 358,267 kilometers (222,617 miles), at 9:06
2/20 New Moon (lunation 1239) occurs at 7:06
2/21 The Moon is 2 degrees south of Neptune at 18:00
2/22 The Moon is 2 degrees south of Venus at 8:00; the Moon is 1.2 degrees south of Jupiter, with an occultation occurring in portions of western Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and southern South America, at 22:00
2/24 The Moon is at the ascending node at 18:56
2/25 The Moon is 1.3 degrees north of Uranus, with an occultation occurring in the southern half of Greenland and portions of northern Canada, at 13:00
2/27 First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:06; 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 15:15
2/28 The Moon is 1.1 degrees north of Mars, with an occultation occurring in northern Mongolia, central and northwestern Russia, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, northwestern Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, at 5:00
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 middle of February. Click on www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/zod1.htm for more on the zodiacal light.
The major meteor showers occurring this year are discussed at skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/the-best-meteor-showers-in-2023/ and amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/
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 10.5 days old, is illuminated 81.1%, subtends 30.1', and is located in the constellation of Taurus at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon attains its greatest northern declination (+27.4 degrees) for the month on February 2nd and greatest southern declination (-27.5 degrees) on February 17th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +7.3 degrees on February 25th. It’s at a minimum of -7.4 degrees on February 17th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.5 degrees on February 19th and a minimum of -6.6 degrees on December 5th. Favorable librations for the following lunar features occur on the indicated dates: Mare Australe on February 1st, Crater Malapert on February 5th, Crater Von Braun on February 16th, and Crater Neper on February 24th. New Moon occurs on February 20th. The Moon is at apogee on February 4th and at perigee on February 19th. The Moon passes near the bright open star cluster M35 in Gemini at 1:00 on February 2nd, the first-magnitude star Castor (Alpha Geminorum) at 15:00 on February 3rd, the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 21:00 on February 3rd, the bright open star cluster M44 (the Beehive or Praesepe) in Cancer at 1:00 on February 5th, the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 23:00 on February 6th, the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 9:00 on February 11th, the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 20:00 on February 14th, and the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) in Taurus at 17:00 on February 26th. The Curtiss Cross occurs on February 14th and the Lunar X on February 27th. See astronomy.com/magazine/2018/11/observe-shadow-play--on-the-moon for an article on these and other lunar clair-obscur events. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on 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. The “daily” lunar maps at www.derekscope.co.uk/moon-phases-maps-for-telescope-view/ are also very good. 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. Click on svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005000/a005048/2023_Moon_Phase_North_Up_YouTubeHD.mp4 for a remarkable lunar phase, libration, and position angle graphic for 2023. 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/2023/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 32.5 arc minutes 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 -0.2, 6.5", 66% illuminated, 1.03 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -3.9, 11.1", 91% illuminated, 1.50 a.u., Aquarius), Mars (magnitude -0.3, 10.7", 92% illuminated, 0.88 a.u., Taurus), Jupiter (magnitude -2.2, 36.1", 99% illuminated, 5.46 a.u., Pisces), Saturn (magnitude +0.8, 15.4", 100% illuminated, 10.78 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 19.83 a.u. on February 15th, Aries), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.78 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.5, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 35.66 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Mars can be seen in the south, Uranus in the southwest, and Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune in the west in the evening sky. Mars and Uranus are in the west at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury lies in the east.
The bright planets in the February sky are discussed at earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
The apparent and comparative sizes of the planets, along with their magnitudes and distances, can be determined, for a given date and time, at www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/planets/distance
The graphic at www.astroleague.org/files/outreach/NeedforTelescopes85x%2011.pdf compares the apparent sizes of the bright planets to that of the Moon.
The article at britastro.org/2018/the-size-of-things discusses the sizes and distances of the planets of the solar system and a number of other celestial bodies in terms of a scale model.
Basic astronomical data such as sunrise and sunset times, morning and evening twilight times, moonrise and moonset times, the phase of the Moon, which naked-eye planets are visible in the evening and morning skies, rise and set times for each of them can be found at skyandtelescope.org/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/skyandtelescope-coms-almanac/#
Another online data generator for various astronomical events is available at astronomynow.com/almanac/
A guide to planetary observing for the year by the British magazine The Sky at Night is posted at www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky/
An article on the planets that are visible in the morning sky this year can be seen at drive.google.com/file/d/1WYLrzS-C-K8VJCU7aNWxpl09IK7rBkqB/view
Asteroid 2 Pallas shines at magnitude +7.7 as it heads northward through Canis Major this month. The main-belt asteroid passes just to the west of the fourth-magnitude star of Xi1 Canis Majoris on February 7th, to the west of the bright open cluster M41 on February 14th and 15th, less than one degree to the west of Nu1 Canis Majoris on February 20th, and to the west of Sirius on February 25th.See asteroidoccultation.com/2023_01_si.htm for information on asteroid occultation events taking place this month. A list of the best occultations of the year can be found at www.asteroidoccultation.com/2023-BestEvents.htm
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) moves at a very speedy rate of six degrees per night as it passes closest to the Earth in early February. That rate will decrease to about three degrees per night by February 8th and about one degree per night by the end of February. It travels from Camelopardalis into Orion over the course of the month. The comet is closest to Earth and is at its brightest, about fifth magnitude, on February 1st. It passes to the west of Capella on February 6th, to the east of Mars on February 11th, and to the east of Aldebaran on February 15th. During February, Comet C/2020 V2 (ZTF) heads southward from Cassiopeia into Andromeda. This comet may brighten to magnitude +9.5. Comet 96P/Machholz may be visible in the eastern sky during morning twilight as it glides from Aquarius into Aquila in early February. Click on earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/new-comet-might-get-bright-enough-for-binoculars/ and www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/ for online articles on Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Finder charts for C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and Comet C/2020 V2 (ZTF) are available on pages 48 and 49 of the February 2023 issue of Sky & Telescope. Visit cobs.si/ and cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for information on the comets that are visible this month.
A list of the closest approaches of comets to the Earth is posted at www.cometography.com/nearcomet.html
A wealth of information on solar system celestial bodies is posted nineplanets.org/ and www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html
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 some of the astronomical events taking place in the coming year can be found at www.universetoday.com/153501/astronomy-2022-top-skywatching-events-for-the-coming-year/
Free star charts for the month can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and whatsouttonight.com/
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/photo.php?fbid=231175679261490&set=pb.100071071788695.-2207520000.&type=3
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 25th, and 28th. Algol is at minimum brightness for observers in North America for about two hours centered at 2:12 a.m. EST on February 10th (7:12 UT on February 11th), 11:02 p.m. EST on February 13th (4:02 UT on February 14th), and 7:51 p.m. EST on February 16th (0:51 UT on February 17th). Consult page 50 of the February 2022 issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the minima. The chance of seeing Algol at least one magnitude fainter than normal on a random night is about 1 in 30. See stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm for more on Algol.
Data on current supernovae can be found at www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Information on observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies 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 are posted at www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and www.star-shine.ch/astro/messiercharts/messierTelrad.htm
Telrad finder charts for the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are available at www.saguaroastro.org/wp-content/sac-docs/Book110BestNGC.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
Some binocular deep-sky object targets for January are shown in the graphic at www.facebook.com/LibraryTelescope/photos/a.2074108879301269/4947203358658459
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.