What Can Be Seen This Month

FEBRUARY

February is a great time for stargazing as we are treated to the end of the ‘parade of the planets’ across the start of the month. In the first weeks of February, the planets Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars are all visible. Saturn, Neptune and Venus will then leave the parade around the middle of the month when they dip below the western horizon. Major constellations like Taurus, the Southern Cross, and Orion will be visible, and there will be a number of major deep sky objects to observe.

MOON

PLANETS

Mercury - will not be visible during observing sessions across the month

Venus - will be visible during observing sessions in the first weeks of the month

Mars – will be visible during observing sessions across the month

Jupiter – will be visible during observing sessions across the month

Saturn - will be visible during observing sessions in the first weeks of the month

PROMINENT CONSTELLATIONS

Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini are visible

Orion is visible – containing the stars Rigel, Betelgeuse, and the Orion nebula

PROMINENT OBJECTS

Orion Nebula (M42) – a cloud of glowing gas, 1500 light years away, but visible to the naked eye

Alpha Centauri – a dominant binary star system in the southern sky

Eta Carina Nebula (NGC3372) – remains of a star that exploded in the 19th century

The Large Magellanic Cloud – a dwarf satellite galaxy containing 20 billion stars

The Pleiades – a beautiful cluster of bright blue stars

Week of Feb 1: New Moon. Visible during observing sessions

Week of Feb 7: First Quarter Moon. Visible during observing sessions

Week of Feb 14: Full Moon. Visible during observing sessions

Week of Feb 21: Third Quarter Moon. Not visible during observing sessions