Items Featured In TGP NOMINAL 9.7 - February Skies 2023
Ross Hockham's February Sky Guide:
Well, the comet from last month has indeed put on a bit of a show
with lots of pics being posted in the UK Astronomy Facebook Group showing some fantastic tails.
Most have seen it using telescopes and some with binoculars but this does depend on the skies and how much light pollution is in your area, I haven’t heard of anyone seeing it by eye yet.
with lots of pics being posted in the UK Astronomy Facebook Group showing some fantastic tails.
Most have seen it using telescopes and some with binoculars but this does depend on the skies and how much light pollution is in your area, I haven’t heard of anyone seeing it by eye yet.
So how to follow it over the next month or so:
On the 6th, Comet c/2022 E3 ZTF passes the Kids Asterism, in the constellation Auriga (The Charioteer)
which is a grouping of 3 stars making a triangle by Capella (The Goat Star)
They are saying it now may just about be visible to the naked eye in good conditions.
But it does seem to be a mixed bag as some people are finding it easily with others struggling.
This may be due to atmospheric conditions and light pollution in different areas.
So it looks to be more a telescope object with cameras bringing out some awesome details.
On the 6th, Comet c/2022 E3 ZTF passes the Kids Asterism, in the constellation Auriga (The Charioteer)
which is a grouping of 3 stars making a triangle by Capella (The Goat Star)
They are saying it now may just about be visible to the naked eye in good conditions.
But it does seem to be a mixed bag as some people are finding it easily with others struggling.
This may be due to atmospheric conditions and light pollution in different areas.
So it looks to be more a telescope object with cameras bringing out some awesome details.
The Comet now moves down into the constellation Taurus (The Bull) and is not that far from the red planet Mars.
It can be found just to the bottom left of the planet heading towards the Bull's head, over the next couple of days.
It can be found just to the bottom left of the planet heading towards the Bull's head, over the next couple of days.
The comet now passes NGC1647 making a good photo opportunity, a lovely open cluster in Taurus with over 90 stars.
Great to spot and seeing with binoculars as you are hunting the comet.
This cluster and the Comet together in a picture would look awesome so I look forward to seeing any that you guys get.
Great to spot and seeing with binoculars as you are hunting the comet.
This cluster and the Comet together in a picture would look awesome so I look forward to seeing any that you guys get.
The Comet is now close to Aldebaran,the big red giant star
that represents Taurus the Bull's eye, looking down at us from the skies.
Taurus's head is made up of lots of red stars that form a triangle that represents the Bull's head
known as the Hyades Cluster.
This again, is a great group of stars to see in binoculars or even your eyes.
that represents Taurus the Bull's eye, looking down at us from the skies.
Taurus's head is made up of lots of red stars that form a triangle that represents the Bull's head
known as the Hyades Cluster.
This again, is a great group of stars to see in binoculars or even your eyes.
The Comet will now fly pretty much parallel to a line of stars that often represents the bow of Orion (The Hunter)
or an animal skin draped over his arm, so you can watch it moving down past these stars for the next 5 days or so.
or an animal skin draped over his arm, so you can watch it moving down past these stars for the next 5 days or so.
Highlights Of The Month:
The full moon is at Apogee which is known as a Micro Moon.
This is where the Moon is farthest away from Earth in its orbit around us
and is called this generally when a full or new Moon reaches this point.
It can look around 14% smaller and less bright than the opposite known as a Super Moon.
This is where the Moon is farthest away from Earth in its orbit around us
and is called this generally when a full or new Moon reaches this point.
It can look around 14% smaller and less bright than the opposite known as a Super Moon.
Also on the 5th, Mars and Aldebaran are close to each other, two nice red objects in the area.
Mars will be above right of the big bright star Aldebaran.
Making a triangle with the bright blue cluster, (M45) The Pleiades, to their right.
The Pleiades are visible by eye and fantastic through binoculars.
Mars will be above right of the big bright star Aldebaran.
Making a triangle with the bright blue cluster, (M45) The Pleiades, to their right.
The Pleiades are visible by eye and fantastic through binoculars.
The Moon is out of the way for a while!
So it's a great time to get out and view the darker skies
while it’s brightness isn’t washing out things like galaxies and nebula.
If you haven’t seen them yet the great (M42) Orion Nebula just under the Hunter's belt.
Made up of three stars it's great to see along with the (M31) Andromeda Galaxy which is still in a good spot to see.
So it's a great time to get out and view the darker skies
while it’s brightness isn’t washing out things like galaxies and nebula.
If you haven’t seen them yet the great (M42) Orion Nebula just under the Hunter's belt.
Made up of three stars it's great to see along with the (M31) Andromeda Galaxy which is still in a good spot to see.
If you missed it last month, there’s another good time to spot the Mare Orientale in Lunar Libration.
As the Moon wobbles and tilts slightly when it orbits us, we get to peek round the edges of this impact crater.
As the Moon wobbles and tilts slightly when it orbits us, we get to peek round the edges of this impact crater.
See Jupiter Venus and Moon in evening sky, as the sun sets there’s an awesome grouping of celestial objects.
There will be a low bright Venus with the Moon just above left of the goddess of beauty
in between her and the gas giant Jupiter which will be above the Moon.
There will be a low bright Venus with the Moon just above left of the goddess of beauty
in between her and the gas giant Jupiter which will be above the Moon.
The Moon is near the bright blue cluster we spoke about earlier, the Pleiades in the constellation of Taurus the bull.
So it will be a cool sight along with Mars and the stars we spoke about earlier.
So it will be a cool sight along with Mars and the stars we spoke about earlier.
Jupiter and Venus start to close in on each other for their closest point on 1st March.
If you watch the two planets over the month you’ll notice them getting closer each night
as Venus rises up towards the gas giant.
If you watch the two planets over the month you’ll notice them getting closer each night
as Venus rises up towards the gas giant.
The Moon moves past Mars in the night sky slipping from its right through the night, to its left.
The Moon slips to the left a bit each night so you can watch it getting brighter
and move further backwards over rest of the month.
The Moon slips to the left a bit each night so you can watch it getting brighter
and move further backwards over rest of the month.
Various Videos:
.TGP NOMINAL Honorary Crew Member 'Maggie Lieu' shows us how to find Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF in her latest video.
Check out her TGP NOMINAL Mission Patch on her Space Onesie!
Check out her TGP NOMINAL Mission Patch on her Space Onesie!