With new month of February upon us, the lengthening of the days will be noticeable at the start and plainly obvious by month's end as we get closer and closer to the equinox, which will come on March 20. Besides the rapidly lengthening days (and thus, shortening nights), February marks the last full Month of Standard Time, with DST returning the first Sunday of next month. All in all, there should be a sense of urgency to get out and see the sky, especially considering the often still lousy Cleveland weather.
Cool Constellations
By nightfall in February the fall constellations are all extremely low in the Western sky by nightfall. Hint: don't dilly dally when it comes to viewing them, they'll be gone by month's end. In the Northwest, ‘W’-shaped Cassiopeia is still high up, house-like Cepheus is low, and the mythological hero Perseus Is still reasonably well-placed for early evening viewing. Moving away from the past and into the present celestial landmarks for this time of year, the Big Dipper is perpendicular to the horizon by the time the sky gets dark and things will only be getting better for Dipper fans as the next few months go along. Almost at zenith is the bright Capella, alpha Auriga. The cloudy patch that is the Pleiades is also very high come nightfall this time of year, as is the V-shaped Hyades cluster. Looking in the South, you'll see all the winter favorites like unmistakable Orion, which also serves as a winter signpost to the stars. From Orion, follow a line from his belt down to blazing blue Sirius, alpha Canis Major. Following that line up will bring one to Aldebaran, alpha Taurus the bull. Aldebaran is also right in the midst of the Hyades. Imagining a line starting at bright blue Rigel (Orion's left foot) through red Betelgeuse (Orion's right shoulder) will bring you to Castor and Pollux, alpha and beta Gemini. Other winter favorites to look for include Canis Minor, Cancer, and even Leo if you wait into the night a little longer. Early birds? Well, getting up just before the Sun will bring a spring preview in the form of Virgo, Bootes, Corona, Hercules, Corvus, and even the Summer Triangle along with the front half of Scorpius, highlighted by fiery red Antares, the rival of Mars.
Planetary Perceptions
For planet fans, February has a lot to offer. In the evening, there’s Venus, third brightest object in the sky, which will only get better as the month goes on, and Jupiter, fourth brightest object, which is sinking fast. Mars nears opposition this month, which means that it is up just about all night, and Saturn is rising at an ever more reasonable hour. The real treat: Venus and Uranus will be close around the 9th and, for purely visual observers, Mercury will be putting on a great show starting around the 20th and running into early March.
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.
Like this?
Hit the 'subscribe' button for automatic email updates when I write something new!
Want to read more of my stuff? Check out my other Examiner columns!
Space News Examiner
Photography Examiner
Cleveland Photography Examiner
Cleveland Astronomy
Featured sight for week of 12/25: latest sunrises
Comet Lovejoy from space
Get Sirius: ring in the New Year with the Dog Star
NASA takes on 2012
President Obama has gone to Mars!
Happy perihelion
The January Sky
Want even more? Check out my personal website:
Bodzash Photography & Astronomy
Comments