The Night Sky in February

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

BETWEEN February 1 and February 28, the length of the night in the latitude of London decreases from 14h 54m to 13h 13m. New moon occurs on February lld 7-6h and full moon on February 25d 7-7h. The planet Venus in the evening sky is a brilliant object; and in conjunction with the crescent moon on February 14d 2Sh will make a striking spectacle. On February 15 at 23h, the planet will pass within 3′ of the star 8 Piscium (magnitude 4.6). Venus is at greatest elongation (47° E.) on February 5. Mercury is a morning star at greatest western elongation (26°) on February 7, when it rises about lh 12m before the sun. On February 9 at 7h, Mercury is in conjunction with the moon, the planet being 2° south of the latter. In mid-February, Saturn sets about two hours after the sun. On February 20, the plane of the rings passes through the earth, and the appearance of the ring system in large telescopes will be of special interest. In 1920 and 1921 when the system could be viewed in similar circumstances as will occur on February 20, it was found that the rings did not completely disappear?a fact which has a bearing on their thickness and structure. On February 13 at 15h, Saturn will be in conjunction with the moon, the planet being 8° S. Jupiter rises near daybreak in the south-east; its magnitude is—1.5. The most favourable times for observing the light changes of Algol (R.A. 3h 04m, Dec. 40° 43′N.) are as follows: February 2d 2-4h, 4d 23-2h, 71 20.0h, 22d 4-1h, 25d 0-9h and 27d 21.8h. The radiant for the a Leonid meteors on February 22-28 is at R.A. 10-4h, Dec. 14° N.