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Celestial Events to Observe Throughout Late February
The night sky offers spectacular sights as we approach the end of February, with several noteworthy astronomical phenomena to witness. From planets alongside the Moon to the dance of Jupiter’s moons, stargazers have much to enjoy during this period.
Friday, February 21
This morning at 4 A.M. EST, the Moon will pass 0.4° south of Antares, the prominent red giant star in Scorpius, visible in the predawn sky.
Later in the evening, focus on Betelgeuse, one of the most recognized stars in Orion. An hour after sunset, it will be high in the southern sky, easily distinguishable above the leftmost star in Orion’s Belt. Betelgeuse, a red supergiant shining at magnitude 0.5, is about 570 light-years away. This star recently gained attention when it experienced a temporary dimming attributed to dust emitted from its surface.
Additionally, Mars will be visible towards the upper left of Orion, positioned approximately in the middle of Gemini.
Sunrise: 6:44 A.M.
Sunset: 5:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:04 A.M.
Moonset: 10:57 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (40%)
Saturday, February 22
Tonight, asteroid 15 Eunomia will be prominently located in northeastern Taurus near Elnath, the tip of the Bull’s horns. If you have a small telescope, you can spot Eunomia, which shines at magnitude 9.8, just southwest of Elnath.
Nearby, you can also find NGC 1802, a faint open cluster, and further southwest the brighter NGC 1746, an extensive star cluster just 1.5° away from Eunomia.
The famous Pleiades cluster is located nearly 20° west of Eunomia. While many novice observers may confuse it with the Little Dipper, this popular cluster is distinctly different. The Hyades, another cluster found near Aldebaran, can be observed about 15° southwest of Eunomia. Look for dark patches in the sky, which indicate the presence of dust clouds in this region.
Sunrise: 6:43 A.M.
Sunset: 5:45 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:05 A.M.
Moonset: 11:46 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (31%)
Sunday, February 23
This evening, around 9 P.M. EST, direct your telescope toward Jupiter, where you can observe its four largest moons in motion. At that time, Io will be situated just west of the gas giant, while Ganymede and Callisto will be positioned far to the east.
A highlight of the evening occurs at 9:12 P.M. EST when Europa reappears from behind Jupiter, only to vanish again three minutes later into the planet’s shadow. A few moments later, at 9:37 P.M. EST, Io will also disappear from view. After some quiet observing, Europa will reemerge at 11:54 P.M. EST, showcasing the extent of Jupiter’s shadow.
Sunrise: 6:41 A.M.
Sunset: 5:46 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:01 A.M.
Moonset: 12:44 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (22%)
Monday, February 24
At 5 A.M. EST, Mars will be stationary within Gemini’s backdrop. It offers an excellent viewing opportunity later in the evening when it’s positioned highest in the sky.
About half an hour after sunset, observe the alignment of Mercury and Saturn, which will appear just 1.5° apart in the early evening sky. Mercury shines brightly at magnitude –1.3 compared to Saturn’s magnitude of 1.1. Using binoculars, you can easily view both planets together in the same field. Mercury appears small and gibbous, while Saturn displays its majestic rings, appearing thinly tilted from our vantage point.
Once you’ve spotted the planets, shift your telescope towards Mars, which will be observable high in the sky, especially around 9 P.M. Look for the dark feature Sinus Meridiani on its disk when observing with a larger telescope.
Sunrise: 6:40 A.M.
Sunset: 5:47 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:50 A.M.
Moonset: 1:53 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (14%)
Tuesday, February 25
This morning, the Moon will pass 1° south of the dwarf planet Pluto at 5 A.M. EST. Despite this proximity, Pluto is obscured and will not be visible due to timing issues with its rise before the Sun.
However, the crescent Moon will be visible just 5° above the southeastern horizon half an hour before sunrise, showcasing the illumination of its western limb with earthshine hinting at its darkened side. This gentle view of the Moon can be enhanced with binoculars or telescopes, providing an ethereal experience of craters and illuminated edges.
Sunrise: 6:38 A.M.
Sunset: 5:48 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:31 A.M.
Moonset: 3:06 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (7%)
Wednesday, February 26
For those who enjoyed observing Betelgeuse earlier this week, tonight provides a chance to explore the double star system 54 Leonis. Look for Leo the Lion a few hours after sunset, where you can locate 54 Leonis, a pair of stars separated by approximately 6.5″. The system’s primary star shines at magnitude 4.5, while the secondary appears fainter at magnitude 6.3, often perceived as deep blue in color.
Sunrise: 6:37 A.M.
Sunset: 5:49 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:05 A.M.
Moonset: 4:22 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (2%)
Thursday, February 27
A New Moon will occur at 7:45 P.M. EST this evening. Additionally, Venus will reach its stationary point in the sky at 10 P.M. EST, transitioning from its upward trajectory to descending westward in the coming nights.
Venus will shine brightly and remain visible shortly after sunset. At this time, it can be viewed alongside Mercury and Saturn while offering a beautiful contrast against the darkening sky. Venus currently appears as a crescent, with only 16% of its surface illuminated.
Sunrise: 6:36 A.M.
Sunset: 5:50 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:34 A.M.
Moonset: 5:39 P.M.
Moon Phase: New Moon
Friday, February 28
This evening, the Moon will pass 0.4° south of Mercury at 11 P.M. EST. The very thin crescent Moon, appearing just a day old, will be visible between Saturn and Mercury shortly after sunset.
Prepare to catch this beautiful conjunction shortly after sunset with clear horizons. The Moon’s crescent will be a striking sight alongside the brighter Mercury and Saturn, presenting a stunning photographic opportunity for astrophotographers.
Sunrise: 6:34 A.M.
Sunset: 5:51 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:01 A.M.
Moonset: 6:55 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (1%)
Source
www.astronomy.com