Myth: astronomy is an expensive hobby that requires telescopes in order to have a good time. Fact: with just your two eyes, there can be plenty to enjoy in the night sky, provided you know what to look for. So, what follows is a list of astronomical goings-on for February, all of which are naked eye.
Note: sunrise/set times are for the Cleveland area, namely 41 degrees North latitude. For anyone reading this who lives at a vastly different latitude, say 10 degrees above or below 40N, your sunrise/set times will be very different.
Early Month: Now’s the best time to view the winter stars.
February 8: Jupiter is now setting at midnight, so get a look at it in a scope while you can!
February 9: The Moon makes a close pass by Mars
February 10: Sunrise is now before 7:30am, Uranus is within a degree of Venus
February 12: The Moon, Spica, and Saturn line up for a one-night only show tonight.
February 14: Third Quarter Moon
February 15: Moon near Antares
February 16: Sunset is now taking place after 6pm.
February 17: Saturn is now rising at 11pm.
February 19: Is it spring? Corvus is due South at 3am.
February 20: Can you see Mercury low in the Western sky yet?
February 21: New Moon
February 22: Young Moon low in the West,right next to Mercury. Grab the binoculars!
February 23: An easier, still thin Moon is visible tonight.
February 24: Mars rises at 7pm.
February 25: The Moon is very, very close to Venus tonight.
February 26: Ditto Jupiter.
February 29: Mercury sets an hour and a half after the Sun, First Quarter Moon
Late Month: Mercury makes a great evening appearance starting this month. Look for its rapid rise starting around the 20th.
Lastly, the weather is something to be considered. Astronomy always a weather-allowing pursuit, be sure to keep an eye on the Cleveland weather forecastand, for hour-by-hour cloud predictions, the Cleveland Clear Sky Clock. The great news, at least in the Cleveland area, things are looking clear as a bell for the coming two nights, which also makes for a great time tocatch Comet Garradd,too. Live somewhere else? Find a clockand see if it will be clear near you.
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