It seemed like every time we turned around in February, we were going from a day or two of sunny, spring like conditions to multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures with snow and ice! Even while all this was going on, we managed to find several good nights that provided some really spectacular views of the Great Orion Nebula along with the Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades Star Cluster. With spring just a few weeks away, maybe we will be able to have a few more good viewing nights.
Highlights: New Moon occurs on the 2nd while Mercury passes to the south of Saturn. On the 5th, Jupiter comes into conjunction with the Sun. The Moon passes to the south of Uranus on the 7th. The Moon reaches apogee (at 251200 miles) and 1st quarter on the 10th. On the 12th, Venus passes to the north of Mars. Neptune comes into conjunction with the Sun on the 13th. Full Moon is on the 18th. The 20th has Venus at its highest point in the eastern sky as Vernal Equinox occurs and Mercury passes to the south of Jupiter. The Moon reaches perigee on the 23rd at 229,758 miles. Lunar 3rd quarter is on the 25th. The Moon passes to the south of Mars on the 27th, then south of Venus and Saturn on the 28th. Venus passes north of Saturn on the 29th. On the 30th the moon passes to the south of Jupiter and then to the south of Neptune.
Comets: Comet Borrelly is still visible as it travels along a path that has it passing to the NW of the Pleiades Cluster (M45) from the 10th thru the 20th. Several other dimmer comets are also in the area and are visible after midnight. Comet C/2019 L3 and 104P/Kowal are moving in the area between the Open Star Cluster M35 and the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237). Comet 67P/Churymov – Gerasmenko is in the area of Cancer and C/2017 K2 (PanStarrs) in the Aquila area.
Planetary Report: The Sun moves from Aquarius into Pisces. Mercury is moving from Capricorn thru Aquarius and into Pisces. Venus is going from Capricorn into Aquarius and Mars moving from Sagittarius into Capricorn. Jupiter is in Aquarius, Saturn is in Capricorn, Uranus is in Aries, Neptune is between Aquarius and Pisces and Pluto is between Sagittarius and Capricorn. The Dwarf Planet Ceres is moving to thru Auriga
Meteors: No meteor showers are shown for March but sporadic meteors will be visible over the course of each evening.
Planet Visibility: Evening hours: Uranus. Morning hours: Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Neptune and Pluto.
Dark Sky Viewing starts on February 20th and goes thru March 4th and then picks up again on March 22nd and goes thru April 4th. Odyssey Astronomy Club viewing sessions are scheduled for March 5th and 26th.
For information about Ten Acre Observatory, the Odyssey Astronomy Club or to schedule an appointment to come out for a visit, contact us at 405-899-4016 (leave a message) or email us at: orion2c@yahoo.com. A visit to the observatory and the use of our equipment and facilities is always FREE. Visit, Like and Follow us on Facebook.
