Monday, February 20
New Moon happens at 2:06 A.M. EST, leaving the sky darkish, moonless, and excellent for observing fainter phenomena just like the zodiacal mild, which is seen simply after sundown right now of yr. In case your observing website contains a darkish horizon, look west about an hour after sundown to see for those who can spot this faint glow. It would seem as a tender, cone-shaped pillar of sunshine stretching upward from the horizon and following the ecliptic upward by means of Pisces (close to brightly shining Jupiter) and Aries above it, narrowing the farther up from the horizon you look. The zodiacal mild will stay seen for one more hour or so, setting alongside the celebrities in that area of the sky.
Additionally price attempting for tonight is Uranus, which lies in southern Aries — a area devoid of shiny stars. The planet is a faint magnitude 5.8 — an actual wrestle with the bare eye from all however the darkest websites, however straightforward to choose up in binoculars. You will discover it by first finding a triangle of stars comprising Fifth-magnitude Sigma (σ), Pi, and Omicron (ο) Arietis. Tonight, Uranus lies practically midway alongside a line operating from Sigma to Pi, exhibiting off a 4″-wide disk that may appear as if a “flat” star with a pale blue hue.
Dawn: 6:46 A.M.
Sundown: 5:42 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:22 A.M.
Moonset: 6:20 P.M.
Moon Section: New
Tuesday, February 21
The now-waxing Moon passes 2° south of Neptune at 1 P.M. EST. An hour after darkish, our satellite remains to be practically 10° excessive within the west, its jap limb (west on the sky) now illuminated within the reverse of its look a number of days in the past. Neptune sits to the Moon’s decrease proper, simply over 3° northwest of our satellite. The distant ice giant is seen solely by means of binoculars or a small telescope, because it glows a faint magnitude 7.8.
Venus lately handed Neptune, coming shut on the 14th and fifteenth. Now, Venus is sort of 8° to Neptune’s northeast as the previous continues its quick slide alongside the ecliptic. It would quickly mingle with Jupiter in an early March conjunction. The intense (nonetheless magnitude –3.9) terrestrial planet is roughly 87 p.c lit and 12″ huge by means of your telescope. To the higher proper of this scene is the Nice Sq. of Pegasus, slowly setting because the Winged Horse dives down within the west. The magnitude 2.5 star Markab is closest to the horizon, whereas Alpheratz (magnitude 2.1) sits 20° above it. To the precise is 2nd-magnitude Scheat; to the left is Third-magnitude Algenib.
Dawn: 6:45 A.M.
Sundown: 5:43 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:51 A.M.
Moonset: 7:37 P.M.
Moon Section: Waxing crescent (3%)
Wednesday, February 22
Persevering with alongside the ecliptic, the Moon passes 2° south of Venus at 3 A.M. EST, then strikes 1.2° south of Jupiter at 5 P.M. EST. An hour after sundown within the Midwest, the Moon sits simply beside the solar system’s largest planet with lower than 1.5° separating them. Jupiter lies throughout the bounds of Pisces, whereas our satellite is simply over the border in Cetus.
Coming into view on the jap limb of the Moon is the darkish blotch of Mare Fecunditatis (the Sea of Fertility). See whether or not you’ll be able to detect any options on the shadowed portion of Luna’s face, as earthshine — mirrored daylight bouncing off Earth — typically lights up the areas of our satellite nonetheless in darkness.
In spite of everything mild has left the sky, flip a telescope upward to the jap fringe of Pisces. There, you’ll discover the grand design spiral M74, which glows at magnitude 9.4 some 1.3° northeast of Eta (η) Piscium. This attractive galaxy spans about 10′, which sadly lends it a low floor brightness. Take your time discovering it and bump up your aperture as a lot as doable to see whether or not you’ll be able to detect the faint spiral arms winding round its brighter core.
Dawn: 6:44 A.M.
Sundown: 5:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:16 A.M.
Moonset: 8:50 P.M.
Moon Section: Waxing crescent (9%)
