Northern hemisphere Sky Calendar
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February 2008 Sky Calendar
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The Planets
Planets Visible NowMercuryMercury passes between Earth and Sun on the 6th (inferior conjunction) and cannot be seen at all until about mid-month, when it emerges into the southeastern morning sky not far from Venus. In fact it passes by Venus on the 25th. However, current orbital geometry causes this to occur low in the sky, so neither planet is visible until about an hour before sunrise, and are quite low as the sky brightens.Venus
Venus is always bright, but as mentioned with Mercury above, the current orbital geometry dictates that it appear quite low in the southeastern sky, and only for a short while before sunrise.MarsMars still dominates the evening sky in Taurus, but it is receding from the Earth and getting smaller and dimmer. In February it is roughly halfway between Aldebaran in Taurus and Pollux in Gemini, near the star cluster M35, high overhead at mid-evening. The Moon passes nearby on the evening of the 15th.
JupiterJupiter is in the morning southeast sky, but as with the other two morning planets, Mercury and Venus, the inclination of the Ecliptic to the horizon means that this planet appears only low in the sky. However, it appears a bit farther from the Sun than Venus or Mercury, so it is a bit better placed. Look for it in Sagittarius, low in the southeast a hour before sunrise. Venus is brighter but lower and to the left.
SaturnSaturn is in Leo, and opposite the Sun on the 24th. It is well placed for viewing all night. It is quite easily seen during the lunar eclipse on the 20th, when it will be just to the left of the eclipsed Moon.
(Official three-letter codes are in parentheses)
2007 February 2
2007 March 3
2008 February 21
Minor Activity
Recommended experience level: Expert
Radiant Duration Maximum Aurigids January 31-February 23 Feb. 5-10 Alpha Centaurids (ACE) February 2-25 Feb. 8/9 Beta Centaurids February 2-25 Feb. 8/9 Delta Leonids (DLE) February 5-March 19 Feb. 22/23 Sigma Leonids February 9-March 13 Feb. 25/26
Daylight Activity
Recommended experience level: Expert
Radiant Duration Maximum Capricornids-Sagittariids January 13-February 28 Jan. 30-Feb. 3 Chi Capricornids January 29-February 28 Feb. 13/14
