The moon is just 1.7 degrees south of the bright star, Spica in the constellation Virgo, on Feb. 1, just before last-quarter phase Feb. 2. Feb. 4, the moon is 0.6 degrees north of the bright red star, Antares, in Scorpius. Then in succession, Venus, Mars and Mercury are nearby Feb. 7 and 8, but increasingly more difficult to observe, since the moon is approaching new phase, close to the sun, and becomes new Feb. 9. It reaches perigee of 358,088 kilometres Feb. 10, contributing to large tides in coastal areas.
Saturn and Neptune are close to Luna Feb. 10 and 12, respectively. By Feb. 15, Jupiter and Uranus are both three degrees south of the first-quarter moon, which is less than one degree south of the Pleiades Feb. 16. Feb. 21, Pollux in Gemini is 1.6 degrees north of our satellite. The moon is full Feb. 24, its smallest appearance in 2024. Apogee of 406,312 km is Feb. 25. Spica shows up for the second time this month Feb. 28, 1.5 degrees south.
Mercury is rapidly circling behind the sun, achieving superior conjunction Feb. 28.
Venus remains as the bright Morning Star just before dawn, and five degrees north of the waning crescent moon Feb. 7. Even though poorly placed for northern observers, Venus and Mars are in close conjunction Feb. 22; tiny Mars is 100 times more dim than its bright planetary companion.
Mars slowly emerges from behind the sun in the eastern morning twilight, joining Venus Feb. 22 against the starry backdrop of Capricornus, The Sea Goat in Greek mythology.
Jupiter can be seen in the western evening sky shortly after sunset. The waxing crescent moon passes three degrees to the north Feb. 15.
Saturn is barely visible in the western evening sky, but not for long. By mid-month, it’s too close to the sun, achieving conjunction Feb. 28th.
Uranus has begun prograde motion against the starry background of Aries, just a few degrees east of Jupiter. It should be visible to the unaided eye at a dark location away from city lights. Feb. 15, the waxing crescent moon is three degrees north of the blue-green planet.
Neptune is gradually fading as it nears the sun and conjunction in mid-March.
The zodiacal light is visible in the western evening twilight for two weeks during the end of February and into March. This phenomenon is caused by dust in space along the ecliptic being backlit by the sun. It’s subtle, but fun to catch a glimpse.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he was recently awarded a Fellowship of the RASC.
