SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

The Sun and Moon

There are no eclipses this month.

As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Capricornus to the constellation Aquarius.

The phases of the Moon are

First Quarter : 1 February
Full : 8 February
Last Quarter : 15 February
New : 23 February

The Moon is at perigee on 7 February when higher than normal tides can be expected. This is because perigee nearly coincides with the Full phase. Apogee is on 20 February.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Mercury begins retrograde motion on 3 February. The closest planet to the Sun finds itself at inferior conjunction with our star ten days later. On 25 February, Mercury resumes prograde motion. Visible in the constellations Aquarius and Capricornus, it is best seen from the southern hemisphere at the end of the month.
Venus
The brilliant "evening star" is at its brightest this month and is best viewed from the northern hemisphere. Venus can be seen in the constellations Pisces.
Mars
Mars begins the month in the constellation Libra before moving into Scorpius and approaching the bright star Antares. The red planet reaches west quadrature on 22 February and rises an hour or so after midnight.
Jupiter
The largest planet in the solar system is currently the brightest object in the constellation Taurus. This is a good time to observe Jupiter and its Galilean satellites as the gas giant reaches east quadrature on 20 February.
Saturn
This evening sky object can be found not far from Jupiter in the constellation Taurus. Saturn reaches east quadrature a week before Jupiter, making this an excellent time to look for the planet's shadow cast on its rings.
Uranus
Uranus is in conjunction with the Sun on 9 February, and thus cannot be seen in the constellation Capricornus.
Neptune
Neptune also is located in the constellation Capricornus and cannot be seen this month.
Pluto
This smallest of the planets is in the constellation Ophiuchus, and rises in the early morning hours.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
Unfortunately, the nearly Full Moon will wash out the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower which peaks on at 22 UT on 7 February.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of Sky & Telescope and in other fine amateur astronomy magazines available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.

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Last modified on 31 January 2001
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