Post by Dave Mitsky on Feb 1, 2016 6:26:39 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 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 3:28; Mars is 2.7 degrees south-southwest of the Moon at 10:00
2/2 The astronomical cross-quarter day known as Imbolc, Candlemas, or Groundhog Day occurs today; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to occur at 0:59
2/3 Saturn is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 19:00
2/6 Venus is 1.1 degrees south of Pluto at 0:00; Pluto is 3.2 degrees south of the Moon at 6:00; Venus is 4.3 degrees south of the Moon at 7:00; Mercury is 3.8 degrees south of the Moon at 16:00
2/7 Mercury reaches greatest western elongation (25.5 degrees) at 1:00; asteroid 18 Melpomene (magnitude +11.2) is 0.61 degree north of the Moon at 1:00; Mars is at western quadrature at 12:00
2/8 New Moon (lunation 1152) occurs at 14:39
2/9 Neptune is 2 degrees south-southeast of the Moon at 23:00
2/10 The Moon is at the descending node at 20:45
2/11 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 33' 35" from a distance of 364,360 kilometers (226,401 miles), at 3:00; Mercury is at minimum libration (0.8 degree) for 2016 at 4:00; Mercury is at the descending node at 8:00; the equation of time is at minimum for 2016 at 22:00
2/12 Uranus is 1.6 degrees north-northwest of the Moon at 15:00
2/13 Mercury (magnitude -0.1) is 4.0 degrees east of Venus (magnitude -3.9) at 3:00
2/14 Venus is at the descending node at 22:00
2/15 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 occur at 2:44; First Quarter Moon occurs at 7:46; asteroid 5 Astraea (magnitude +8.6) is at opposition at 12:00; the Moon is 8.9 degrees south of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades) in Taurus at 14:00
2/16 The Moon is 0.35 degree north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), with an occultation visible from southeast Asia, southern China, Japan, Hawaii, and the far western United States, at 8:00
2/17 The Sun enters the constellation of Aquarius at 2:00
2/18 The Moon is 6.1 degrees south of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 0:00
2/20 The Moon is 5.0 degrees south of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) in Cancer at 17:00
2/21 Mercury is at aphelion at 17:00
2/22 The Moon is 2.4 degrees south-southwest of the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 12:00; Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 18:20; a double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 20:41
2/24 Jupiter is 1.6 degrees north-northeast of the Moon at 3:00; the Moon is at the ascending node at 6:13
2/26 A double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 9:38; the Moon is 4.9 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 23:00
2/27 Mars and Uranus are at heliocentric opposition at 1:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 31" from a distance of 405,383 kilometers (251,893 miles), at 3:00
2/28 Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun at 16:00
2/29 Leap Day; Mars is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 20:00; a double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 22:34
Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), and Clyde Tombaugh (1906-1997) were born this month.
Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto on February 18, 1930. Gerald Kuiper discovered the Uranian satellite Miranda (magnitude +15.8) on February 16, 1948. Supernova 1987A was discovered by Ian Shelton, Oscar Duhalde, and Albert Jones on February 23, 1987. PSR B1919+21, the first pulsar, was discovered by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish on February 24, 1967.
The zodiacal light is visible in the western sky about 80 minutes after sunset from dark locations and is best seen from February 6th to February 20th.
Information on Iridium flares and passes of the ISS, the Tiangong-1, the USAF’s X-37B, the HST, and other satellites can be found at www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 22.0 days old, is illuminated 51.4%, subtends 29.3', and is located in the constellation of Libra at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination of +18.3 degrees on February 18th and its greatest southern declination of -18.3 degrees on February 5th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.6 degrees on February 19th and a minimum of -6.2 degrees on February 5th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.8 degrees on February 17th and a minimum of -6.7 degrees on February 17th. New Moon occurs on February 8th. The Moon is at apogee on February 27th and at perigee on February 11th. The dark limb of the First Quarter Moon occults the stars of the Hyades (including Gamma Tauri, 75 Tauri, Theta 1 Tauri, and Theta 2 Tauri) and Aldebaran from some parts of the world on the night of February 15th-16th. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/ for information on this event and upcoming lunar occultations. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons. Times and dates for the lunar light rays predicted to occur this month are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in the constellation of Capricornus on February 1st. It enters Aquarius on February 17th.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on February 1: Mercury (magnitude +0.0, 7.6", 49% illuminated, 0.89 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -3.9, 12.4", 85% illuminated, 1.35 a.u., Sagittarius), Mars (magnitude +0.8, 6.8", 90% illuminated, 1.37 a.u., Libra), Jupiter (magnitude -2.4, 42.5", 100% illuminated, 4.64 a.u., Leo), Saturn (magnitude +0.5, 15.8", 100% illuminated, 10.51 a.u., Ophiuchus), Uranus (magnitude +5.9, 3.4", 100% illuminated, 20.57 a.u. on February 15th, Pisces), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.92 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.2, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 33.80 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Uranus and Neptune can be seen in the southwest in the evening sky. Jupiter is in the southeast at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury and Venus lie in the southeast, Mars and Saturn in the south, and Jupiter in the west.
At midmonth, Mercury is visible during morning twilight, Venus rises at 6:00 a.m., Mars rises at 1:00 a.m. and transits at 6:00 a.m., Jupiter rises at 7:00 p.m. and transits at 2:00 a.m., and Saturn rises at 2:00 a.m. local time for observers at latitude 40 degrees north.
Mercury is present in the morning sky this month. The speediest planet is 3.8 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon on February 6th. It reaches greatest western elongation on February 7th and is at the descending node on February 11th. Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) on February 21st.
Venus decreases in apparent size by 1.2 arc seconds but increases in illumination by 6% this month. A quasi-conjunction involving Venus, Mercury, and the waning crescent Moon takes place on the morning of February 6th. Venus is 4.3 degrees south of the Moon on that date. A quasi-conjunction between Venus and Mercury occurs on February 13th.
Mars increases in apparent size from 6.8 to 8.6 arc seconds and brightens to magnitude +0.3 during February. The Red Planet is 2.7 degrees south-southeast of the Last Quarter Moon on February 1st. Mars is 1.1 degrees north of the third-magnitude star Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae) as February begins. Mars is at western quadrature on February 7th.
Jupiter grows two arc seconds in apparent size as it retrogrades through southeastern Leo this month. It lies 1.6 degrees north-northeast of the waning gibbous Moon on the night of February 23th (February 24th UT). Click on www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ or consult page 47 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope to determine transit times of the central meridian by the Great Red Spot. Data on Galilean satellite events is available online at www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/ and www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ and on page 47 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope.
Saturn lies 21 degrees south of the celestial equator in the non-zodiacal constellation of Ophiuchus. The Ringed Planet is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon on February 3rd. At mid-month, Saturn's rings span 37 arc seconds and are inclined 26 degrees from edge-on. Saturn rises at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time by the end of February. For information on the satellites of Saturn, browse www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/
As February begins, Uranus can be found two degrees due south of the fourth-magnitude star Epsilon Piscium in southern Pisces. The seventh planet heads slowly northeast as the month progresses. Uranus is 1.6 degrees north-northwest of the waxing crescent Moon on February 12th.
Neptune disappears from view after the first week of February. It lies about three degrees southwest of the fourth-magnitude star Lambda Aquarii. Neptune is 2 degrees south-southeast of the young waxing crescent Moon on the night of February 9th (February 10th UT). It’s in conjunction with the Sun on February 28th.
See www.curtrenz.com/uranep.html for additional information on the two outer planets.
Finder charts for Uranus and Neptune can be found on page 49 of the September 2015 issue of Sky & Telescope and online at www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm and www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm and at www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_UrNep_Finders.pdf
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/
Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) glides southwestward through Camelopardalis for most of the month. It passes close to the North Celestial Pole in early February. On February 13th, the comet lies about three degrees to the east of IC 342, a faint face-on spiral galaxy. Comet Catalina passes just one half of a degree to the east of the planetary nebula NGC 1501 on February 24th. The open cluster NGC 1502 and the attractive chain of stars comprising the asterism known as Kemble’s Cascade (Kemble 1) lie nearby. Browse www.telescope.com/assets/images/articleimages/og11-27_3.png for an image of NGC 1502 and Kemble’s Cascade. Visit cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for additional information on Comet Catalina and other comets visible this month.
Asteroid 4 Vesta travels northwestward through southern Pisces. The eighth-magnitude asteroid lies about five degrees south of Uranus on February 1st. Asteroid 5 Astraea (magnitude +8.6) reaches opposition in Leo on February 15th. Click on in-the-sky.org/news/asteroids/20160215_15_100_2.png for a finder chart. Other fairly bright asteroids coming to opposition this month include 40 Harmonia (magnitude +9.7) on February 5th and 52 Europa (magnitude +10.0) on February 13th.
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at www.curtrenz.com/astronomical and nineplanets.org/
Free star maps for February can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th. Consult www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ or page 46 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the eclipses. For more on Algol, see stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm
Information pertaining to observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies can be found at www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and tonightssky.com/MainPage.php
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 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 3:28; Mars is 2.7 degrees south-southwest of the Moon at 10:00
2/2 The astronomical cross-quarter day known as Imbolc, Candlemas, or Groundhog Day occurs today; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to occur at 0:59
2/3 Saturn is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 19:00
2/6 Venus is 1.1 degrees south of Pluto at 0:00; Pluto is 3.2 degrees south of the Moon at 6:00; Venus is 4.3 degrees south of the Moon at 7:00; Mercury is 3.8 degrees south of the Moon at 16:00
2/7 Mercury reaches greatest western elongation (25.5 degrees) at 1:00; asteroid 18 Melpomene (magnitude +11.2) is 0.61 degree north of the Moon at 1:00; Mars is at western quadrature at 12:00
2/8 New Moon (lunation 1152) occurs at 14:39
2/9 Neptune is 2 degrees south-southeast of the Moon at 23:00
2/10 The Moon is at the descending node at 20:45
2/11 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 33' 35" from a distance of 364,360 kilometers (226,401 miles), at 3:00; Mercury is at minimum libration (0.8 degree) for 2016 at 4:00; Mercury is at the descending node at 8:00; the equation of time is at minimum for 2016 at 22:00
2/12 Uranus is 1.6 degrees north-northwest of the Moon at 15:00
2/13 Mercury (magnitude -0.1) is 4.0 degrees east of Venus (magnitude -3.9) at 3:00
2/14 Venus is at the descending node at 22:00
2/15 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 occur at 2:44; First Quarter Moon occurs at 7:46; asteroid 5 Astraea (magnitude +8.6) is at opposition at 12:00; the Moon is 8.9 degrees south of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades) in Taurus at 14:00
2/16 The Moon is 0.35 degree north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), with an occultation visible from southeast Asia, southern China, Japan, Hawaii, and the far western United States, at 8:00
2/17 The Sun enters the constellation of Aquarius at 2:00
2/18 The Moon is 6.1 degrees south of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 0:00
2/20 The Moon is 5.0 degrees south of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) in Cancer at 17:00
2/21 Mercury is at aphelion at 17:00
2/22 The Moon is 2.4 degrees south-southwest of the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 12:00; Full Moon (known as the Hunger, Snow, or Storm Moon) occurs at 18:20; a double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 20:41
2/24 Jupiter is 1.6 degrees north-northeast of the Moon at 3:00; the Moon is at the ascending node at 6:13
2/26 A double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 9:38; the Moon is 4.9 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 23:00
2/27 Mars and Uranus are at heliocentric opposition at 1:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 31" from a distance of 405,383 kilometers (251,893 miles), at 3:00
2/28 Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun at 16:00
2/29 Leap Day; Mars is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 20:00; a double Galilean shadow transit (Io’s shadow follows Europa’s shadow) begins at 22:34
Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), and Clyde Tombaugh (1906-1997) were born this month.
Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto on February 18, 1930. Gerald Kuiper discovered the Uranian satellite Miranda (magnitude +15.8) on February 16, 1948. Supernova 1987A was discovered by Ian Shelton, Oscar Duhalde, and Albert Jones on February 23, 1987. PSR B1919+21, the first pulsar, was discovered by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish on February 24, 1967.
The zodiacal light is visible in the western sky about 80 minutes after sunset from dark locations and is best seen from February 6th to February 20th.
Information on Iridium flares and passes of the ISS, the Tiangong-1, the USAF’s X-37B, the HST, and other satellites can be found at www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 22.0 days old, is illuminated 51.4%, subtends 29.3', and is located in the constellation of Libra at 0:00 UT on February 1st. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination of +18.3 degrees on February 18th and its greatest southern declination of -18.3 degrees on February 5th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.6 degrees on February 19th and a minimum of -6.2 degrees on February 5th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.8 degrees on February 17th and a minimum of -6.7 degrees on February 17th. New Moon occurs on February 8th. The Moon is at apogee on February 27th and at perigee on February 11th. The dark limb of the First Quarter Moon occults the stars of the Hyades (including Gamma Tauri, 75 Tauri, Theta 1 Tauri, and Theta 2 Tauri) and Aldebaran from some parts of the world on the night of February 15th-16th. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/ for information on this event and upcoming lunar occultations. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons. Times and dates for the lunar light rays predicted to occur this month are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in the constellation of Capricornus on February 1st. It enters Aquarius on February 17th.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on February 1: Mercury (magnitude +0.0, 7.6", 49% illuminated, 0.89 a.u., Sagittarius), Venus (magnitude -3.9, 12.4", 85% illuminated, 1.35 a.u., Sagittarius), Mars (magnitude +0.8, 6.8", 90% illuminated, 1.37 a.u., Libra), Jupiter (magnitude -2.4, 42.5", 100% illuminated, 4.64 a.u., Leo), Saturn (magnitude +0.5, 15.8", 100% illuminated, 10.51 a.u., Ophiuchus), Uranus (magnitude +5.9, 3.4", 100% illuminated, 20.57 a.u. on February 15th, Pisces), Neptune (magnitude +8.0, 2.2", 100% illuminated, 30.92 a.u. on February 15th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.2, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 33.80 a.u. on February 15th, Sagittarius).
Uranus and Neptune can be seen in the southwest in the evening sky. Jupiter is in the southeast at midnight. In the morning sky, Mercury and Venus lie in the southeast, Mars and Saturn in the south, and Jupiter in the west.
At midmonth, Mercury is visible during morning twilight, Venus rises at 6:00 a.m., Mars rises at 1:00 a.m. and transits at 6:00 a.m., Jupiter rises at 7:00 p.m. and transits at 2:00 a.m., and Saturn rises at 2:00 a.m. local time for observers at latitude 40 degrees north.
Mercury is present in the morning sky this month. The speediest planet is 3.8 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon on February 6th. It reaches greatest western elongation on February 7th and is at the descending node on February 11th. Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) on February 21st.
Venus decreases in apparent size by 1.2 arc seconds but increases in illumination by 6% this month. A quasi-conjunction involving Venus, Mercury, and the waning crescent Moon takes place on the morning of February 6th. Venus is 4.3 degrees south of the Moon on that date. A quasi-conjunction between Venus and Mercury occurs on February 13th.
Mars increases in apparent size from 6.8 to 8.6 arc seconds and brightens to magnitude +0.3 during February. The Red Planet is 2.7 degrees south-southeast of the Last Quarter Moon on February 1st. Mars is 1.1 degrees north of the third-magnitude star Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae) as February begins. Mars is at western quadrature on February 7th.
Jupiter grows two arc seconds in apparent size as it retrogrades through southeastern Leo this month. It lies 1.6 degrees north-northeast of the waning gibbous Moon on the night of February 23th (February 24th UT). Click on www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ or consult page 47 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope to determine transit times of the central meridian by the Great Red Spot. Data on Galilean satellite events is available online at www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/ and www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ and on page 47 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope.
Saturn lies 21 degrees south of the celestial equator in the non-zodiacal constellation of Ophiuchus. The Ringed Planet is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon on February 3rd. At mid-month, Saturn's rings span 37 arc seconds and are inclined 26 degrees from edge-on. Saturn rises at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time by the end of February. For information on the satellites of Saturn, browse www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/
As February begins, Uranus can be found two degrees due south of the fourth-magnitude star Epsilon Piscium in southern Pisces. The seventh planet heads slowly northeast as the month progresses. Uranus is 1.6 degrees north-northwest of the waxing crescent Moon on February 12th.
Neptune disappears from view after the first week of February. It lies about three degrees southwest of the fourth-magnitude star Lambda Aquarii. Neptune is 2 degrees south-southeast of the young waxing crescent Moon on the night of February 9th (February 10th UT). It’s in conjunction with the Sun on February 28th.
See www.curtrenz.com/uranep.html for additional information on the two outer planets.
Finder charts for Uranus and Neptune can be found on page 49 of the September 2015 issue of Sky & Telescope and online at www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm and www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm and at www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_UrNep_Finders.pdf
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/
Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) glides southwestward through Camelopardalis for most of the month. It passes close to the North Celestial Pole in early February. On February 13th, the comet lies about three degrees to the east of IC 342, a faint face-on spiral galaxy. Comet Catalina passes just one half of a degree to the east of the planetary nebula NGC 1501 on February 24th. The open cluster NGC 1502 and the attractive chain of stars comprising the asterism known as Kemble’s Cascade (Kemble 1) lie nearby. Browse www.telescope.com/assets/images/articleimages/og11-27_3.png for an image of NGC 1502 and Kemble’s Cascade. Visit cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for additional information on Comet Catalina and other comets visible this month.
Asteroid 4 Vesta travels northwestward through southern Pisces. The eighth-magnitude asteroid lies about five degrees south of Uranus on February 1st. Asteroid 5 Astraea (magnitude +8.6) reaches opposition in Leo on February 15th. Click on in-the-sky.org/news/asteroids/20160215_15_100_2.png for a finder chart. Other fairly bright asteroids coming to opposition this month include 40 Harmonia (magnitude +9.7) on February 5th and 52 Europa (magnitude +10.0) on February 13th.
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at www.curtrenz.com/astronomical and nineplanets.org/
Free star maps for February can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart
The famous eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at a minimum, decreasing in magnitude from 2.1 to 3.4, on February 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th. Consult www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ or page 46 of the February issue of Sky & Telescope for the times of the eclipses. For more on Algol, see stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/Algol.html and www.solstation.com/stars2/algol3.htm
Information pertaining to observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies can be found at www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and tonightssky.com/MainPage.php
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.