Night Sky for February 2010
Interesting things happening in February that Bellatrix Orionis is hoping to observe
Visual guide from Hubble Site.
Monday 1 February
See if you can find the Crab Nebula in Taurus using binoculars (it'll be in the south west of the sky).
Mars will continue to be in a fabulous position for observing all month so grab your telescope and head to a dark spot for observing.
Tuesday 2 February
The 'Double Cluster' in Perseus will be overhead at 18:00UT.
Wednesday 3 February
Spot the Moon near Saturn during the early morning.
Thursday 4 February
The Moon can be found close to Spica in the constellation Virgo during the morning.
Friday 5 February
The last quarter of the Moon can be seen in the constellation Libra during the early hours.
Saturday 6 February
Mars occults the star TYC 1942-2407-1 between 05:03 and 05:13UT. If you're looking for a challenging observation this is the one for you.
Sunday 7 February
Mars can be found north of the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the south east of the sky.
Monday 8 February
Why not have a look at the Great Orion Nebula which can be found in the sword of Orion.
Tuesday 9 February
Have a go at spotting some deep-sky objects, it'll be easier as the Moon is not visible.
- Mizar and Alcor
- M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy
- M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy
- M40
- M97 - The Owl Nebula
- M81 and M82
If you want to have a pootle round Gemini with your binoculars/telescope it's well place for viewing tonight.
Wednesday 10 February
Thin crescent Moon can be seen low in the south east sky at 06:30UT.
Thursday 11 February
The variable star R Cygni is at its brightest just before dawn in the south east.
You can catch two of Saturn's brightest moons, Titan and Rhea on the western side of the planet at 23:00UT
Friday 12 February
Uranus can be found below Pisces in the west, but you'll need either binoculars or a telescope.
Saturday 13 February
Variable star Algol (an eclipsing binary) in the constellation of of Perseus will be at its minimum at 20:00UT.
Sunday 14 February
New Moon.
Monday 15 February
During the early evening twilight you'll be able to view the crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter.
Tuesday 16 February
Find the 'dog star' Sirius in the south of the sky.
Venus and Jupiter will be in conjunction and can be seen just after sunset.
Wednesday 17 February
The crescent Moon is low in the western sky.
Thursday 18 February
Minor planet 4 Vesta can be found in the constellation Leo near the star Gamma Leonis in the east.
Friday 19 February
See if you can resolve the double star Castor in the constellation of Gemini with a telescope.
Saturday 20 February
If you want to see Antares, the supergiant in Scorpius you need to be out of bed early (06:00UT).
Monday 21 February
The Moon has a 'close encounter' with the Pleiades (M45).
Tuesday 22 February
The first quarter Moon can be seen above the star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus.
Wednesday 23 February
Variable star U Orionis is at its brightest tonight (magnitude +6.3). It varies in magnitude between +6.3 and +12 over a period of 368 days
Thursday 24 February
The Moon forms a triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
Friday 25 February
The Moon forms a triangle with Mars and the star Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
Saturday 26 February
Can you resolve the double star Algieba in the constellation of Leo with a telescope?
Sunday 27 February
The Moon seen near the star Regulus in the constellation of Leo.
Monday 28 February
Check out the crater Tycho on the full Moon.
Interesting things happening in February that Bellatrix Orionis is hoping to observe
Visual guide from Hubble Site.
Monday 1 February
See if you can find the Crab Nebula in Taurus using binoculars (it'll be in the south west of the sky).
Mars will continue to be in a fabulous position for observing all month so grab your telescope and head to a dark spot for observing.
Tuesday 2 February
The 'Double Cluster' in Perseus will be overhead at 18:00UT.
Wednesday 3 February
Spot the Moon near Saturn during the early morning.
Thursday 4 February
The Moon can be found close to Spica in the constellation Virgo during the morning.
Friday 5 February
The last quarter of the Moon can be seen in the constellation Libra during the early hours.
Saturday 6 February
Mars occults the star TYC 1942-2407-1 between 05:03 and 05:13UT. If you're looking for a challenging observation this is the one for you.
Sunday 7 February
Mars can be found north of the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the south east of the sky.
Monday 8 February
Why not have a look at the Great Orion Nebula which can be found in the sword of Orion.
Tuesday 9 February
Have a go at spotting some deep-sky objects, it'll be easier as the Moon is not visible.
- Mizar and Alcor
- M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy
- M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy
- M40
- M97 - The Owl Nebula
- M81 and M82
If you want to have a pootle round Gemini with your binoculars/telescope it's well place for viewing tonight.
Wednesday 10 February
Thin crescent Moon can be seen low in the south east sky at 06:30UT.
Thursday 11 February
The variable star R Cygni is at its brightest just before dawn in the south east.
You can catch two of Saturn's brightest moons, Titan and Rhea on the western side of the planet at 23:00UT
Friday 12 February
Uranus can be found below Pisces in the west, but you'll need either binoculars or a telescope.
Saturday 13 February
Variable star Algol (an eclipsing binary) in the constellation of of Perseus will be at its minimum at 20:00UT.
Sunday 14 February
New Moon.
Monday 15 February
During the early evening twilight you'll be able to view the crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter.
Tuesday 16 February
Find the 'dog star' Sirius in the south of the sky.
Venus and Jupiter will be in conjunction and can be seen just after sunset.
Wednesday 17 February
The crescent Moon is low in the western sky.
Thursday 18 February
Minor planet 4 Vesta can be found in the constellation Leo near the star Gamma Leonis in the east.
Friday 19 February
See if you can resolve the double star Castor in the constellation of Gemini with a telescope.
Saturday 20 February
If you want to see Antares, the supergiant in Scorpius you need to be out of bed early (06:00UT).
Monday 21 February
The Moon has a 'close encounter' with the Pleiades (M45).
Tuesday 22 February
The first quarter Moon can be seen above the star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus.
Wednesday 23 February
Variable star U Orionis is at its brightest tonight (magnitude +6.3). It varies in magnitude between +6.3 and +12 over a period of 368 days
Thursday 24 February
The Moon forms a triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
Friday 25 February
The Moon forms a triangle with Mars and the star Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
Saturday 26 February
Can you resolve the double star Algieba in the constellation of Leo with a telescope?
Sunday 27 February
The Moon seen near the star Regulus in the constellation of Leo.
Monday 28 February
Check out the crater Tycho on the full Moon.
- Mizar and Alcor
- M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy
- M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy
- M40
- M97 - The Owl Nebula
- M81 and M82