SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

The Sun and Moon

There is a partial solar eclipse on 5 February.

As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Capricornus to the constellation Aquarius.

The phases of the Moon are

New : 5 February
First Quarter : 12 February
Full : 19 February
Last Quarter : 27 February

The Moon is at apogee on 1 February, at perigee on 17 February, and at apogee again on 28 February. Last year, February lacked a Full Moon. This was because of a double Blue Moon in January and March 1999.

The nearly New Moon occults Neptune during daylight hours on 4 February. The following day, Uranus is the target for a daytime occultation. The Moon occults Aldebaran for the final time this year on 14 February. This event can be seen from northeast Russia.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
The closest planet to the Sun reaches greatest elongation east on 15 February. Mercury begins retrograde motion on 20 February and can be found at sunset in the constellations Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Venus
The "morning star" is sinking in the eastern sky before sunrise and is best viewed from the southern hemisphere. Venus can be seen in the constellations Sagittarius and Capricornus.
Mars
Mars begins the month in the constellation Aquarius before moving into Pisces. The red planet can be seen in the western sky after sunset.
Jupiter
The largest planet in the solar system can be found in the constellations Pisces and Aries.
Saturn
This evening sky object can be found not far from Jupiter in the constellation Aries.
Uranus
Uranus is in conjunction with the Sun on 6 February, and thus cannot be seen in the constellation Capricornus.
Neptune
Neptune also is located in the constellation Capricornus and cannot be seen this month.
Pluto
This smallest of the planets is in the constellation Ophiuchus, and rises in the early morning hours.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
Southern hemisphere observers might like to try viewing the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower which peaks on at 16 UT on 8 February. Unlike last year, the Moon should offer little interference as it sets not long after the Sun.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of Sky & Telescope and in other fine amateur astronomy magazines available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

Obliquity Copyright © 1995-2000 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
All Rights Reserved
Designed and maintained by Obliquity
Last modified on 31 January 2000
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2000/feb2000.html