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Monthly Skywatchers' Page

For London and the UK

The Sun and eight major planets (plus KBO Pluto) to scale. Earth is third planet from the left.

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Introduction

The location of the stars and can be learnt throughout a single year from books or refurbished laptops. Each month of the year, the same stars are visible from a given location. Different stars and constellations are visible as the year progresses. For example, in London, the constellation of Orion is always visible in the evenings of winter months of January and February. Scorpius is visible in the summer months of June and July around midnight.

The planets resemble stars except that, generally, they do not twinkle. Unlike the stars whose patterns are fixed, planets wander through the sky changing their positions amongst the starry background. This means that their periods of visibility change as the relative position of the Earth, Sun and planet vary. In one year Mars may be visible in August at midnight. In another year it may be behind the Sun and invisible from Earth during August.

This page gives the details of visibility for the five naked eye planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. It also gives information about comets, meteor showers and non-regular phenomena like eclipses, transits and occultations.

The Observers' Glossary explains the terms used. Alternatively run the mouse cursor over terms in maroon.

The descriptions below are for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, especially London and the United Kingdom.
The planetary information is valid for any location at the same or similar Latitude (51.5°N).
Note that a degree in the sky is twice the apparent diameter of the Moon.

All times on this page are London (UK) times. This is normally GMT (Greenwich Mean Time also known as Universal Time).
In the United Kingdom, the clocks go forward by one hour for British Summer Time (BST) between mid March and late October.
A 24 hour clock is used so that 7pm is written 19:00.

February 2012

Mercury

Mercury passes through on the 7th.

The planet then moves into the evening sky where it will become visible in the last week of the month, setting an hour and a half after the Sun. The best time to look for the ellusive innermost planet is about half an hour after the Sun sets, low above the South Western horizon.

Mercury will be close to the very thin crescent Moon on 23rd and will be below, to the right and fainter than the more brilliant Venus.

Venus

Venus is a magnificent evening object dominating the Western skies for several hours after sunset.

Venus continues pulling away from the Sun and moving higher for Northern Hemisphere observers, making this an excellent appearance of the planet. By the end of February, the dazzling white planet will be setting over four hours after Sun.

Venus is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. During the month it will be shining more than ten times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star. People seeing it for the first time are often surprised that they haven't noticed it before. Do go out and look. It is said that when Venus is out, the number of UFO sightings increases.

During the month, Venus and Jupiter will be moving closer together; the two brightest planets will be forming a spectacular pair in the evening sky towards the month end.

On 25th, the crescent Moon will be close to Venus making a wonderful spectacle in the evening sky. There will opportunities to photograph the two bodies (plus Jupiter above them) close together a day on either side of the 25th.

Around this time, Venus and Jupiter will be joined in the evening sky by Mercury making a lovely collection of planets with the Moon.

Mars

Mars rises in Virgo around 8pm at the beginning of the month slightly to the North of East. The planet will remain visible for the rest of the night. By the end of February the planet will be rising just after 6pm.

Mars is now approaching Oposition in early March and its brightness almost doubles during February. The planet is now brighter than all the stars apart from Sirius. The famous red colour is now very easy to see with the naked eye.

On the night of 10th, the Moon will be seen below Mars providing a good opportunity to locate the planet.

During February the motion of Mars against the background stars is Retrograde. Usually, the planets move from right to left against the background stars (as does the Moon). Every 27 months Mars reverses its motion as the faster moving Earth overtakes the red planet leaving it behind. The planet's retrograde motion will carry Mars back into Leo at the beginning of the month.

Retrograde motions of the planets baffled ancient astronomers who struggled to explain them.

In fact Mars will trace out a loop (see image below) before it resumes its forward motion in mid April. All planets have retrograde motion but that of Mars is the easiest to observe.

The retrograde motion of Mars in Leo.

Jupiter

Jupiter is an evening object, shining brilliantly in Aries, setting at midnight at the beginning of February. By the end of the month, the planet will be setting around 11pm.

Jupiter is brighter than any star, shining with a steady off-white light, about twice as bright as Sirius (the brightest star). The planet will make a spectacular pairing with the Moon on 27th with the more brilliant Venus below the pair.

Through a good pair of binoculars or a small telescope, the planet's four large moons are easily visible resembling little stars in a straight line with the planet. Their positions change from night to night.

Saturn

Saturn now rises before midnight among the stars of Virgo. The planet remains close to Virgo's brightest star, the blue coloured Spica for most of the year.

Spica and Saturn are joined by the Moon on the morning of 12th with the star and planet above the Moon.

The Sun

During February, the Sun continues to move northwards causing the length of day to increase from 9 hours 9 minutes to 10 hours 52 minutes, an increase of one hour and forty three minutes.

The time of midday is at its latest this month, on 11th. This has the effect of moving the daylight into the post noon part of the day. The mornings remain darker than the evenings. For example, on 11th, the Sun rises at 07:23 (giving 4 hours 37 minutes of daylight before 12:00. On the same day the Sun sets at 17:07. This gives 5 hours and 7 minutes of daylight after 12:00. This is thirty minutes more daylight in the afternoon than in the morning.

The Sun begins February in Capricornus and moves into Aquarius on 16th.

Note that the Zodiac dates do not tie in with astrology as astrologers are using dates from two thousand years ago.

Date	Sunrise	Midday	Sunset	Length of Day	Sun's Noon Altitude	Notes
01-Feb	07:40	12:14	16:49	9h 09m	21.4°
02-Feb	07:38	12:14	16:51	9h 12m	21.6°
03-Feb	07:37	12:14	16:52	9h 15m	21.9°
04-Feb	07:35	12:14	16:54	9h 19m	22.2°
05-Feb	07:33	12:14	16:56	9h 22m	22.5°
06-Feb	07:32	12:14	16:58	9h 26m	22.8°
07-Feb	07:30	12:15	17:00	9h 29m	23.1°	Full Moon at 21:54
08-Feb	07:28	12:15	17:02	9h 33m	23.4°
09-Feb	07:27	12:15	17:03	9h 36m	23.8°
10-Feb	07:25	12:15	17:05	9h 40m	24.1°	Moon close to Mars
11-Feb	07:23	12:15	17:07	9h 44m	24.4°	Latest time of midday
12-Feb	07:21	12:15	17:09	9h 47m	24.7°	Moon close to Saturn
13-Feb	07:19	12:15	17:11	9h 51m	25.1°
14-Feb	07:17	12:15	17:13	9h 55m	25.4°	Morning Half Moon
15-Feb	07:16	12:15	17:14	9h 58m	25.8°
16-Feb	07:14	12:15	17:16	10h 02m	26.1°	Sun enters Aquarius
17-Feb	07:12	12:14	17:18	10h 06m	26.4°
18-Feb	07:10	12:14	17:20	10h 10m	26.8°
19-Feb	07:08	12:14	17:22	10h 13m	27.1°
20-Feb	07:06	12:14	17:23	10h 17m	27.5°
21-Feb	07:04	12:14	17:25	10h 21m	27.9°	New Moon at 10:35
22-Feb	07:02	12:14	17:27	10h 25m	28.2°
23-Feb	07:00	12:14	17:29	10h 29m	28.6°	Moon close to Mercury
24-Feb	06:58	12:14	17:31	10h 33m	29.0°
25-Feb	06:56	12:14	17:32	10h 36m	29.3°	Moon close to Venus
26-Feb	06:53	12:13	17:34	10h 40m	29.7°
27-Feb	06:51	12:13	17:36	10h 44m	30.1°	Moon close to Jupiter
28-Feb	06:49	12:13	17:38	10h 48m	30.4°
29-Feb	06:47	12:13	17:40	10h 52m	30.8°

The Moon

Date	Notes
7	Full Moon at 21:54
10	Moon close to Mars
11	Perigee (Moon at its nearest to Earth)
12	Moon close to Saturn
14	Half Moon
21	New Moon at 07:39
23	Moon close to Mercury
25	Moon close to Venus
27	Apogee (Moon at its furthest from Earth)
27	Moon close to Jupiter

Next Month

Jupiter and Venus in the evening (conjunction) and Mercury, Mars at oposition, Saturn in the morning. Equinox.

All times on this page are London (UK) times.

Sources: Astronomy Now magazine, Cybersky, USA Naval Observatory and UK Nautical Almanac Office.

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Observers' Glossary

The Observers' Glossary

An explanation of the terms used by sky observers. Includes descriptions of how the objects of the solar system behave in the sky as seen from Earth (especially the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes).

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The Solar System

Tables and data about the Sun, Earth, Moon, planets, asteroids and comets. All terms used are explained.

Measuring The Stars

An account of how various properties of stars can be measured by studying starlight. Includes brightness, distance, luminosity, temperature, mass, radius, density and an introduction to the H-R Diagram.

The Brightest Stars

A table containing a list of the 20 brightest stars in the Earth's sky. Explanations of all the associated terms like magnitude, spectral type and radial velocity.

Eclipses, Transits and Occultations

A detailed account about eclipses, transits and occultations. These are irregular phenomena that can be observed in the sky. Includes eclipse trips around the world with photos and well as photos of recent transists of Mercury and Venus.

The Scale of the Universe

In astronomy distances and times are confusing because of the large numbers of zeros in the figures. This is an easy-to-understand scaling of the Universe in both space and time. Distances in space are represented by the time light takes to travel there. The chronology of the Universe is compared to a real year.

A Brief History of Astronomy

How humanity came from believing Creation Myths to postulating the Inflationary Big Bang Theory. The key stages in our understanding of our place in the cosmos and the people who broadened our understanding.

The Calendar

What do we mean by the words day, week, month, year? Who invented our calendar? When did the third millennium begin? The relation between time and astronomy.

Gravity

The force that moves apples and planets. A short introduction to the ideas of Kepler and Newton that culminated with the theory of Universal Gravitation.

Spherical Trigonometry

A look at the mathematics of a sphere with a section on sundials and the equation of time.

External Skywatching Links

These links will open in a separate window

StarDate Online
An excellent online skywatchers' magazine featuring detailed monthly information about astronomical events.

Astronomy Picture of the Day
A different image each day with an extensive archive and explanations.

Society for Popular Astronomy
Monthly planet and star gazing details with maps for young people.

Telescope House
A London based source of astronomical equipment, telescopes, software, maps and books.

Southern Sky Watch
Sky watchers information for the southern hemisphere.

Starry Night Pro
Superb planetarium software. Simulate the sky from anywhere on the Earth and any time.