Though we may be forecast for some snow, February will hopefully see clear skies for all the constellation and planet viewing. As stated last month, compared to areas near Boston or New Bedford, generally speaking, the tri-town has pretty good dark skies. We are very fortunate in that regard. Though we can’t normally make out the Milky Way’s signature glow, we can still spot a lot. For the astrophysicist in us all, please use this month’s guide to complement your stargazing and cosmic sightseeing.
The current visible planets are Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. Saturn is currently opposite the sun and is very difficult to spot. The Andromeda Galaxy is relatively easy to spot, as well as the Orion Nebula (within the like-named constellation). The Pleiades cluster is visible to the south, near Jupiter in the sky. The International Space Station (ISS) is visible every night at various times. It’s hard to miss when it’s clear and you know where you’re looking.
February 9 will see Mars come close to the nearly-full moon in the sky. Around 8:00 pm. The two will be nearest. Though it will make a close pass to the moon relative to our eyes, Mars’ red glow will shine with a high magnitude.
The next full moon will be on February 12. Generally called the “Snow Moon” due primarily to the aforementioned common snowy weather. It is also referred to as the “Hunger Moon” or other names highlighting the time of year’s lack of sustenance, “Goose Moon,” “Bear Moon,” “Trapper’s Moon,” “Storm Moon,” and many others.
On February 16, Venus will be at its brightest for the year. It will be low on the horizon to the west after sunset.
The final day of the month, February 28, will also have a new moon.
There is plenty to see and plenty of apps, websites, and other resources to aid in identifying. NASA is always great for events and flyovers.
Astronomy Update for February
By: Sam Bishop