Current Solar X-rays: Current Geomagnetic Field: |
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from Guy Ottewell's Astronomical Calendar updates published on his website... |
Venus and Jupiter on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2023. The sky is all about love. Image produced by Stellarium... |
Sunday, Feb. 19: The moon is at perigee, its closest position from the Earth, where it will be a mere 222,200 miles in distance. Monday, Feb. 20: The moon is new and is too close to the sun to be seen. The hemisphere of the moon that is never observed from the Earth, the far side, is now in full sunlight. There is no "dark side of the moon" unless you know something about Pink Floyd. All locations on the moon go through a day and night cycle. Luna also rises and sets about the same time as the sun.
Tuesday, Feb 21: Look for a four percent sunlit, razor thin, waxing (growing) crescent moon visible low in the sky around 6:45 p.m. You'll need a good western horizon to make this observation, but it will be worth the effort. Above the moon will be Venus (brighter), and above it, Jupiter. Over the next several days, observers should also be able to witness earthshine, sunlight reflected from a nearly full Earth which reflects off the moon and back to us, allowing viewers to see the region of the moon's surface that is not in direct sunlight. Romantically, it is also called the old moon in the new moon's arms.
Wednesday, Feb. 22: The eastern limb (right side) of the moon is positioned just over one degree from Jupiter, a splendid visual sight in the darkening heavens, or wait an hour until 7:45 p.m. and see it in a completely dark sky. Binoculars, if held steadily enough and properly focused, should reveal two of the four Galilean satellites near the planet, Callisto below Jupiter and Ganymede above the Jovian world. Both are larger than the Earth's moon.
Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 23-25: The moon continues to wax but enters an area of the sky which is populated by fainter stars. Notice how rapidly Luna gains altitude from one evening to the next. That is because its orbit in late winter and the spring is inclined at its steepest angle to the horizon. This is the time of the "smiley moon." As Luna gets closer to the horizon, its crescent shape looks more like the grin of a jack-o-lantern, minus its two eyes.
Sunday, Feb. 26: Place a finger over Luna to cut back on its brightness. Below and to the right, you will notice the gossamer Pleiades or Seven Sisters, the best example of an open star cluster in the heavens. To the left of Luna, you should perceive orangey Aldebaran, the brightest star of the V-shaped head of Taurus the Bull. The "V" is a great binocular target too, and except for Aldebaran, an open cluster in itself known as the Hyades.
Monday, Feb. 27: The moon is at first quarter, half on and half off, with its light to the right and very near to the planet Mars this evening.
Follow the Moon continues next week as Luna heads from first quarter along its orbital path towards its full phase on March 7. Ad Astra!
Sunday, Feb. 26: About two hours after sundown, you will find the moon in the south. Place a finger over Luna to shield its brightness. Below and to the right, you will notice the misty looking Pleiades or Seven Sisters. To the left of Luna, you should witness orangey Aldebaran, the brightest star of the V-shaped head of Taurus the Bull. Except for Aldebaran, the "V" is a great binocular target and a star cluster called the Hyades.
Monday, Feb. 27: Early in the day, the moon reaches first quarter, half on and half off, with its light to the right. By evening its terminator, the demarcation where night is changing into day, has already become slightly gibbous (bulging). That bright, reddish star-like object just above the moon is the planet Mars, about four lunar diameters away in angular distance.
Tuesday, Feb. 28: The waxing gibbous moon is high above the constellation of Orion the Hunter and still relatively close to Mars, now located to the moon's right. Orion is often identified by its three belt stars which are nearly equal in brightness and form a straight line. In South America they are called the three Marys.
Wednesday, March 1: Forget about the moon tonight. Venus (brighter) and Jupiter are within one lunar diameter of each other, in the west after sundown, the best conjunction of the year.
Thursday, March 2: Notice how the moon has exploded in brightness. On this evening at 8 p.m., Luna is positioned just under two degrees below Pollux, the brightest star of the Gemini Twins. You may have to hide Luna with a piece of cardboard or use binoculars to see Pollux. If you can shade yourself from streetlights, you will notice the moon casting distinct shadows on the ground. My grandfather would read the German newspaper by the light of the gibbous moon when he fought on the Russian front during WWI. Try reading a book or magazine by the light of the moon near its full phase. You'll be surprised by the moon's brilliance.
Sunday, March 5: Looking east at 9 p.m., the fat waxing gibbous moon sits equidistant between the brightest and second brightest stars of Leo the Lion. Regulus (brighter) is to the moon's right while Algieba is to Luna's left. Hide the moon with a finger to more easily see these stars or use binoculars.
Tuesday, March 7: The moon is in opposition to the sun tonight, in its full phase, rising when the sun sets and setting when the sun rises. It will be visible all night long. Enjoy the experience that is the moon. Ad Astra!
Harvard Misconception Quiz Answers: 1)c, 2)a, 3)a, 4)d, 5)d, 6)f, 7)d, 8)b, 9)c. 10)a, 11)b
Lunar Progress: The moon moved from below Venus (brighter) and Jupiter to above the pair between Tuesday, February 21 to Thursday, February 23. The images were taken from Moravian University's Sky Deck located on the rooftop of the Collier Hall of Science. Note the earthshine on the moon. Gary A. Becker images taken with a Google Pixel Pro 7. |