Venus (brighter object) and Mercury hold within the January sky on this 2015 shot. By midweek this week, Mercury is misplaced in twilight, so ensure to catch it early. Credit score: Stuart Rankin (Flickr)
Friday, February 2
Final Quarter Moon happens tonight at 6:18 P.M. EST.
The constellation Auriga the Charioteer sits simply above Gemini the Twins within the east this night. It’s already fairly excessive an hour after sundown. This constellation is residence to a few well-known Messier clusters, however tonight we’re going to a lesser-known gem: the open cluster NGC 1893. This younger group of stars sits inside a bigger nebula cataloged as IC 410 (typically known as the Tadpole Nebula or the Tadpoles). And whether or not you’re a visible observer or an astrophotographer, it’s value having a look.
NGC 1893 shines at collective magnitude of seven.5, making its stars a simple catch for binoculars or any telescope. It lies about 5° north of Elnath in Taurus, the closest brilliant star. It’s additionally a 5.4° hop east of Iota (ι) Aurigae, in case you favor a signpost in the identical constellation.
This younger open cluster is about 11′ broad and seems surrounded by a faint haze — although you’ll want a big scope (12 inches or so) to detect this glow by eye, which is IC 410. Alternatively, photographing the area ought to actually assist to carry out IC 410’s glow, even in case you can’t see it on the eyepiece. The “tadpoles” for which the nebula is known as are two distinct streamerlike “tails” of fuel silhouetted towards a darker backdrop of dust within the northeastern areas of the advanced.
Dawn: 7:08 A.M.
Sundown: 5:20 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:11 A.M.
Moonset: 10:40 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning gibbous (52%)
*Instances for dawn, sundown, moonrise, and moonset are given in native time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. native time from the identical location.
Saturday, February 3
This morning may maintain your final view of the planet Mercury till subsequent month, when it’ll reappear within the night sky. Headed for superior conjunction in late February, Mercury lies near the horizon this morning as daybreak approaches.
You’ll discover the small planet simply 2° excessive within the southeast some half-hour earlier than dawn. Though it’s low, it’s additionally brilliant, shining at magnitude –0.4. Solely Venus is noticeably brighter, 10° excessive and about 14° to Mercury’s west (higher proper). Mars is sandwiched between the 2 planets, barely nearer to Mercury. The Purple Planet is a faint magnitude 1.3 and 5° excessive right now.
Evaluate the three planets by a telescope. Venus is 86 % lit and the biggest at 12″ throughout. Mars seems full and stretches simply 4″ in diameter. Mercury, in case you can catch it, is barely bigger than Mars — 5″ throughout — and barely extra illuminated than Venus at 90 % lit.
Mercury will proceed to sink decrease on the identical time every day, rendering it tougher to see because it descends into morning twilight.
Dawn: 7:07 A.M.
Sundown: 5:21 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:16 A.M.
Moonset: 11:08 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (42%)
Sunday, February 4
The Moon passes 0.6° north of Antares at 8 P.M. EST. This brilliant crimson star marks the guts of Scorpius the Scorpion and sits in a wealthy area close to the airplane of our Milky Way Galaxy.
As a result of the area shouldn’t be seen within the night sky, you’ll need to catch it within the early morning as a substitute. Two hours earlier than dawn, look south to seek out the crescent Moon sitting between 2nd-magnitude Delta (δ) Scorpii and Third-magnitude Pi (π) Scorpii. About 7° to the decrease left (east) of the Moon is Antares, a magnitude 1.1 crimson big.
Antares’ crimson shade is mostly noticeable even with the bare eye. Its title interprets to “rival of Mars,” so given as a result of it may be simply mistaken for Mars within the sky, due to its shade and brightness.
Look about 3° above (north-northwest of) Antares and also you’ll land on the magnitude 4.6 star Rho (ρ) Ophiuchi. This star lies within the midst of an enormous advanced of stars, nebulae, and molecular clouds, and is likely one of the most colorful regions of the sky for astrophotographers to {photograph}. (Observe, nevertheless, that the attention will solely see the nebulae as grey or white by a telescope.) Rho itself is a binary with two scorching, blue parts separated by about 3″. The pair is surrounded by a brilliant reflection nebula, a cloud of dust that displays (therefore the title) the celebrities’ gentle.
Dawn: 7:06 A.M.
Sundown: 5:23 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:24 A.M.
Moonset: 11:43 A.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (32%)
Monday, February 5
Three of Jupiter’s 4 Galilean moons are placing on a present tonight. You’ll discover the enormous planet excessive within the southwest an hour after sundown. Observers within the japanese half of the U.S. will catch all 4 moons round 7:30 P.M. EST: Ganymede lies far to the west, whereas Io (closest) and Europa additionally sit west of the gas giant. Callisto is alone, simply southeast of Jupiter.
Twenty-five minutes later, Io has moved in and disappears behind Jupiter’s western limb in an occultation. Callisto is slowly sliding south of the planet — it’ll sit straight under the south pole round 9 P.M. EST.
Maintain watching, as a result of round 10 P.M. EST, two occasions happen in fast succession. Round 10:05 P.M. EST, Io reappears from behind Jupiter’s japanese limb, however it’s dimmed by the planet’s deep, darkish shadow. It could be tough and even not possible to see, so don’t fear in case you can’t. Lower than 5 minutes later, Europa — which has additionally been approaching the western limb — disappears in its personal occultation. Callisto by now sits southwest of the planet, having handed beneath the south pole with out crossing in entrance of or behind Jupiter, due to the lean of the moon’s orbit relative to Earth.
Stick to Jupiter one other hour or so. Io absolutely reappears shortly after 11:20 P.M. EST, illustrating simply how far Jupiter’s shadow stretches behind it (and clearly exhibiting the placement of the Solar relative to the planet). Europa received’t make it out of the shadow till Jupiter has set for all observers within the continental U.S.
Dawn: 7:05 A.M.
Sundown: 5:24 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:33 A.M.
Moonset: 12:28 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (23%)
Tuesday, February 6
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is now roughly eighth magnitude, touring by far japanese Cygnus close to the northwestern nook of Pegasus. This area is comparatively low within the west an hour after sundown, however you’ll nonetheless have time to take a peek below darkish skies. For one of the best prospects, get to an observing web site with somewhat altitude over its environment and guarantee your western horizon is evident of bushes or buildings.
The comet now lies in a area between the intense star Deneb in Cygnus and the Nice Sq. of Pegasus. It’s a little lower than midway alongside a line drawn between magnitude 1.3 Deneb and magnitude 2.4 Scheat, the northwesternmost star within the Sq.. When you’re within the area, you should utilize magnitude 4.3 Pi Pegasi as a more in-depth information — Pons-Brooks is a few 6.7° northwest of this star, close to a set of two Sixth-magnitude stars. Try the chart above for extra particulars on its place tonight. It needs to be readily seen in a telescope, and bigger binoculars can even decide up its fuzzy coma.
Simply 11° northwest of the comet is the gorgeous North America Nebula (NGC 7000) in case you’ve received time to cease by.
Dawn: 7:04 A.M.
Sundown: 5:25 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:40 A.M.
Moonset: 1:25 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (14%)
Wednesday, February 7
The Moon passes 5° south of Venus at 2 P.M. EST. You possibly can catch this pairing within the early-morning sky about 45 minutes earlier than dawn, when the 2 are rising within the southeast because the sky begins to lighten with the daybreak.
The Moon is now simply 8 % lit, illuminated solely alongside its western limb. Nevertheless it’s doubtless that some earthshine — daylight reflecting off Earth — could reveal element even on the darkened areas of the lunar face. Our satellite sits contained in the deal with of Sagittarius’ Teapot asterism, although the dimmer stars of this constellation are fading rapidly within the rising gentle.
To the Moon’s higher left is brilliant Venus. Earth’s sister planet is magnitude –3.9 — the brightest object within the predawn sky. By way of a telescope, Venus seems 87 % lit and its disk is 12″ broad.
Mars lies some 7° east of Venus on the ecliptic, to the intense planet’s decrease left. It rises an hour earlier than the Solar and shines at magnitude 1.3. You might be able to catch it in binoculars or a telescope because it begins to climb greater, however the sky can even be brightening, hindering your efforts. Be sure that to place away any optics at the least a number of minutes earlier than dawn out of your location, which can differ barely from the time given under.
Dawn: 7:03 A.M.
Sundown: 5:26 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:40 A.M.
Moonset: 2:34 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (7%)
Thursday, February 8
Shifting alongside the ecliptic, the Moon now passes 4° south of Mars at 2 A.M. EST. Our satellite is tough to catch this morning, rising half an hour earlier than the Solar however solely 3 % lit. When you’re up for the problem, you’ll be able to strive recognizing it and Mars once more this morning. The Purple Planet rises an hour earlier than the Solar and stays magnitude 1.3.
Night observers could have a a lot simpler time of issues: Asteroid 4 Vesta is stationary at 1 P.M. EST and visual in Taurus this night. It’s already 60° excessive within the southeast an hour after sundown, situated some 3.7° northwest of magnitude 3 Alheka, the tip of Taurus’ easternmost (and lowest because the constellation rises) horn. Vesta is magnitude 7.4, simply picked up by binoculars or any small telescope. After tonight, it’ll start shifting eastward relative to the background stars. It covers lower than 2° of sky by the tip of the month, so you’ll be able to decide it up on this identical spot for the following few weeks.
As a bonus, the well-known Crab Nebula (M1) lies lower than 3° east-southeast of Vesta and needs to be readily seen by a very good scope from a darkish location, notably with no moonlight to intervene tonight. This tangle of fuel and dust is the remnant of a star that went supernova; the sunshine from that explosion was seen in 1054. The Crab itself is a few magnitude fainter than Vesta (magnitude 8.4) and stretches 6′ throughout at its widest. With the darkish skies tonight, strive it in binoculars; if in case you have bother selecting it up, change to a telescope. The nebula will appear to be a whitish-gray patch of fuzz.
Dawn: 7:02 A.M.
Sundown: 5:27 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:31 A.M.
Moonset: 3:53 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (2%)
Friday, February 9
New Moon happens at 5:59 P.M. EST, leaving completely darkish skies to please deep-sky observers.
At present’s goal is for early rises, notably these with a transparent southern horizon. We’re on the lookout for M17, also called the Omega or Swan nebula. The perfect time to seek out it’s round 5:30 A.M. native time, when it’s reached 15° altitude within the southeast. It lies above the highest of the Sagittarius Teapot asterism, which is simply peeking out from the horizon right now.
Seen with binoculars — although you’ll need as massive a telescope as attainable to tug out essentially the most element — M17 sits 9.4° north-northwest of Third-magnitude Lambda (λ) Sagittarii and a pair of.6° southwest of Fifth-magnitude Gamma (γ) Scuti. It glows at magnitude 6 and stretches about 11′ at its longest.
Observers report differing shapes relying on the dimensions of their instrument. Smaller scopes present the nebula as a quantity 2 or, as one in all its names suggests, a swan with its delicate neck curved because it glides alongside the water. Solely bigger scopes (8 to 10 inches or extra) will present that the curve continues, revealing the form of the Greek letter Omega (Ω). Astronomy contributor Phil Harrington suggests utilizing a narrowband light-pollution or oxygen-III (OIII) filter to carry out extra element and texture within the fuel.
Dawn: 7:01 A.M.
Sundown: 5:29 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:12 A.M.
Moonset: 5:14 P.M.
Moon Section: New
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