Eye on the Sky February 2005

Paul Curtin

The February Sky

We begin east of Taurus at Gemini. The main part of Gemini consists of two parallel lines running southwest from Castor and Pollux (Alpha and Beta Geminorum, respectively.) If you are unfamiliar with this constellation, do not be confused by the the bright object hovering along the eastern line. This is the planet Saturn. At the "foot" of the northern line lie a number of open clusters. The most notable of these is M35. Compare this with NGC 2158, visible in the same wide angle view. 22158, because of its greater distance, appears much smaller and compact than M35.

Beneath Gemini is a large region of faint stars comprising Monoceros. Though bereft of any outstanding pattern, this constellation contains many interesting nebulae, clusters and star fields characteristic of the Winter Milky Way. Sweep this area with binoculars or a wide field telescope. For observers with very dark skies, the Rosette nebula, the Cone nebula and Hubble’s variable nebula are challenging objects best seen in large aperture telescopes.

South of Monoceros is the stunning constellation Canis Major, with Sirius at the northern tip of what may be imagined to be the figure of a leaping dog. Canis Major also presents a rich array of clusters and Milky Way fields. Due south of Sirius is M41, an impressive open cluster. Farther to the east, embedded in the Milky Way, is M93 in Puppis. Puppis, south of Canis Major, is packed with deep sky objects and some of the best star clouds of the winter.

Southern observers still have a good view of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Of the many deep sky objects visible in this companion to our galaxy, the brightest is the Tarantula nebula.

The Planets in February

Mercury is too low in the morning sky to be easily observed.

Venus is also a difficult object near the horizon at dawn.

Mars, now in Sagittarius, begins to brighten in the predawn sky. It will not begin to fade until 2006.

Jupiter is in Virgo. It rises after dark and can be observed throughout the night. Jupiter will be the most prominent object in the Spring sky, but observers may want to start looking for cloud features and satellites now. See Gupta for feature transit times.

Saturn, in Gemini, is a great evening object this month. The rings are tilted at a very favorable angle. Observers should take advantage of this opportunity to try to glimpse the finer ring divisions.

Bibliography

Burnham, Robert Jr., "Burnham's Celestial Handbook," New York: Dover, 1978.

Gupta, R. (ed.), "Observers Handbook," Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005.

Kepple, G. R., Sanner, G. W., "The Night Sky Observers Guide," Richmond, VA: Willman-Bell, 1999.

Tirion, W., Rappaport, B., Remaklus, W., "Uranometria Deep Sky Atlas," Richmond, VA: Willman-Bell, 2000.

Webb, T. W., "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes," New York: Dover, 1962.