Here you will find useful observing information about the visible planets,
our Moon and other moons, the Sun, as well as various 'things' celestial.
Among these web pages you will find monthly star maps for either the northern or southern hemisphere that are suitable for printout.
Animated images are utilized to illustrate celestial motions such as orbital motions of the planets, and other solar orbiting objects,
or apparent and real motions along the ecliptic and the local horizon. Regular features include plotting the monthly positions of the
visible planets using heliocentric coordinates; following moon phases; conjunctions; the sun's apparent motion and the Earth's real
motion along the ecliptic.
Scroll down for more web site information, resources, and a link to the previous month issue.
Mercury moves into superior conjunction, on the other side of the Sun, and will not be visible for viewing until later next month when it reappears in the evening skies.
Click on this link to read the Previous Issue of Qué tal? in the Current Skies
February Sky Calendar | ||||
01. Moon Near Regulus
02. Dwarf Planet Ceres Closest to Earth 05. Moon Near Spica 07. Last Quarter Moon ` Moon Near Jupiter 09. Moon Near Mars 10. Jupiter at Western Quadrature |
11. Moon at Apogee - 405,700 km
` Moon Near Saturn 14. Moon at Descending Node 15. New Moon ` Partial Lunar Eclipse • Celebrate Galileo Day 16. Sun Does Enter the Astronomical Sign of Aquarius ` Moon Near Venus and Neptune 17. Mercury at Superior Conjunction 18. The Sun Does Not Enter the Astrological Sign of Pisces |
22. Moon Near The Pleiades
23. First Quarter Moon ` Moon Near The Hyades 27. Moon at Perigee - 363,932 km 28. Moon at Ascending Node Moon Near Regulus |
Name | February 05 | February 15 | February 25 | |
Mercury | 287o 12' | 319o 29' | 000o 49' | |
Venus | 331o 13' | 347o 04' | 002o 58' | |
Earth | 136o 07' | 146o 15' | 156o 20' | |
Mars | 210o 17' | 215o 04' | 219o 54' | |
Ceres | 221o 18' | 223o 45' | 225o 47' | |
Jupiter | 221o 14' | 222o 00' | 222o 45' | |
Saturn | 271o 34' | 271o 52' | 272o 10' | |
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