The Sky This Week from February 17 to 24

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 at the moment of yr. In case your observing web site includes a darkish horizon, look west about an hour after sundown to see should you can spot this faint glow. It should seem as a comfortable, 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 an additional hour or so, setting alongside the celebs in that area of the sky.

Additionally price making an attempt for tonight is Uranus, which lies in southern Aries — a area devoid of vibrant stars. The planet is a faint magnitude 5.8 — an actual battle with the bare eye from all however the darkest websites, however simple to select up in binoculars. You’ll find it by first finding a triangle of stars comprising Fifth-magnitude Sigma (σ), Pi, and Omicron (ο) Arietis. Tonight, Uranus lies almost midway alongside a line operating from Sigma to Pi, exhibiting off a 4″-wide disk that can 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 Part: 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 almost 10° excessive within the west, its japanese limb (west on the sky) now illuminated within the reverse of its look a couple 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 almost 8° to Neptune’s northeast as the previous continues its quick slide alongside the ecliptic. It should 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″ broad 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 suitable 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 Part: 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 japanese limb of the Moon is the darkish blotch of Mare Fecunditatis (the Sea of Fertility). See whether or not you possibly can 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 any case mild has left the sky, flip a telescope upward to the japanese 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 beautiful 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 possibly can 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 Part: Waxing crescent (9%)