Items Featured In TGP NOMINAL Xtra - February Skies 2019
Ross's February Sky Guide:
Starting the month off with the 1st (Duh) we have a lovely crescent moon just to the left of the goddess of beauty Venus,
shining bright as a morning welcome.
Just to the right will be the king of the planets Jupiter.
The next morning the Moon will have moved further towards the Sun being really close to the planet Saturn,
which will be a little tough to spot because it's low on the horizon, near the rising (DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!).
The planet actually goes behind the moon appearing out the other side just as it rises in our skies at 6.30am.
We have now moved past the Sun making the planets go from one side to the other becoming morning objects,
we'll soon be coming round past them again as the year goes on giving us better views of them.
If you’re a real early bird on the 3rd, grab your scope or a pair of binoculars,
and with a steady hand you may see Jupiter has a dark spot on it around 5.30am.
The planet will be low but its definitely worth an early morning with a hot drink,
to see the moon Ganeymedes shadow move across the planet before the sun rises.
The above photo is in 3-D, so if you have a pair of red and blue lens 3-D glasses, Check it out!
We have been watching the comet 46P/Wirtanen since we first spotted it in December.
It has now moved into Ursa Major the great bear,
but has faded remaining a binocular object but will be dimming greatly by the end of the month.
It's probably your last chance to pop out and take a peek at this ball of snow flying through space without a scope.
If you fancy a minor planet hunt then a lump of rock called 532 Herculina reaches its opposition on the 6th.
It was discovered on April 20, 1904, by a German Astronomer called Max Wolf,
Maximilian Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf to be precise.
The origin of its name is not known; it may be named after the mythical Hercules,
but as the bulk of the asteroids discovered by Wolf around this date were named for characters in operas,
this could be an option.
On the Night of the 12th, Mars is just below right of a near half moon, get your scope out and have a peek at Mars as the planet Uranus is very close to it in our skies, around 8 oclock from the god of war looking like a blue marble floating in space. Uranus is odd being the only planet that is actually on its side so it rolls around the solar system like a football, it is also mostly made of the gas methane…. We’ll let you think about that for a moment. |
If you point towards the Moon on the 14th and look at the region known as the Jura Mountains,
part of the Sinus Iridium area.
The morning light just catches the peaks of these mountains tips creating a cool effect known as the jewelled handle,
just think as your looking at the moons terminator (shadow) that’s morning on the moon,
depending if its waxing or waning of course.
On the morning of the 19th, Venus has moved past Saturn towards the rising Sun, so you can actually see how far the planet moves in its orbit. It and Saturn create a nice triangle with the Star Albaldah or Pi Sagittarii.
Later this evening the rising full Moon marks its closest approach to Earth for 2019,
making it….. you guest it another SUPERMOON.
It rises around 5.30pm and will look awesome on the horizon.
On the 22nd head back to the moon and find the Messier Craters, named after the famous astronomer Charles Messier,
who catalogued most of the brightest objects in the night sky we now use it to find nebula, clusters and galaxies.
The light will create a double spiked shadow as the light hits the two peaks on the crater's wall.
Once again, the image of the Messier Craters on the right is in 3-D so if you still have your glasses handy, have a look!
On the morning of the 28th, the planets form a nice line in the sky with the crescent Moon, Venus, Saturn then Jupiter.
The International Space Station (ISS) will be making an appearance too, flying over them all from 6am
The ISS looks to be flying over the UK a lot over February,so keep an eye out.
www.isstracker.com is an awesome website to find out where the ISS is flying over.
So a nice finisher for the shortest month.
Now we do need to give the Constellation Orion a little mention, just because Ross was out at,
The UK Astronomy Dark Sky Site in Calvert near Steeple Claydon
and pointed his 10” dobby at the Orion Nebula (M42).
"Ohhh My God! It's gas and dust filled the eyepiece It's never looked so good".
The central stars make up a Cluster called theTrapezium.
As the name suggests they form the shape of a trapezium.
The stars light up all the gas in the nebula and it just looks fantastic.
It’s a star nursery where planets and stars are being made.
Here's a link to the Orion Nebula Mosaic that the Hubble Space Telescope captured in 2006, It really is amazing.
The UK Astronomy Dark Sky Site in Calvert near Steeple Claydon
and pointed his 10” dobby at the Orion Nebula (M42).
"Ohhh My God! It's gas and dust filled the eyepiece It's never looked so good".
The central stars make up a Cluster called theTrapezium.
As the name suggests they form the shape of a trapezium.
The stars light up all the gas in the nebula and it just looks fantastic.
It’s a star nursery where planets and stars are being made.
Here's a link to the Orion Nebula Mosaic that the Hubble Space Telescope captured in 2006, It really is amazing.
UK Astronomy February Events:
The National Trust are hosting A Series of Astronomy Events at Dunstable Downs between the 12th – 15th of February.
Dark Sky Wales will be there all week with their Inflatable Planetarium
and giving talks with scopes and all sorts of cool stuff.
UK Astronomy have been asked to take part in the events also and our very own Ross Hockham will be Guest Speaker
with his scopes and Inflatable Solar System for a Family Stargazing Evening on the 13th
and a Valentines Stargazing Evening on the 14th of February.