New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club
As Venus reappears in the evening sky, it will join Jupiter as it gets closer to the horizon. Beginning on the 14th the two planets will be only 2 degrees apart just above the west southwest horizon. By the end of the month, Jupiter will be lost as it reaches conjunction with the sun. This will leave Venus alone as the “evening star” as it begins its climb into the evening sky.
For you die-hard Jupiter fans, the last opportunity for a good view will be at the beginning of the month while the giant planet is still 12 degrees above the horizon. By the end of the month, Venus will have climbed to about 5 degrees above the horizon and should be easy to find about a half hour after sunset.
Mars will continue to dominate the evening sky. On the 4th, it will pass about 3 degrees north of the famous “Beehive” cluster otherwise known as M44. Having been passed by the Earth, in their respective orbits, Mars begins to lag behind. The consequence is that it will begin to fade in apparent magnitude as the Earth begins to pull away losing about ¾ of a magnitude by the end of the month.
Saturn is working its way ever higher into the late evening sky rising by 9:30 at the beginning of the month and by 7:30 at the end of the month. The rings are still getting narrower and will continue to close for a while before opening again.
Mercury will be visible for the first few days of the month just above the southeastern horizon. It will be best viewed about a half hour before sunrise.
The Moon will be last quarter on the 5th, new on the 13th and 1st quarter on the 21st and full on the 28th.
Looking southeast about a half hour before sunrise the waning crescent Moon will help you find tiny Mercury on the mornings of the 10th, 11th and 12th.
Looking west southwest on the 14th, 15th and 16th about 15 minutes after sunset, the crescent Moon will help you locate Jupiter and Venus. On the 25th, a nearly full gibbous Moon will be keeping company with the red planet Mars.
On Feb. 5, the New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club will host a star party at the Etscorn Campus Observatory beginning at 6 p.m. Special guests for this event will be the students and their families from the Cottonwood Valley Charter School. To reach the Observatory, take Canyon Road past the golf course.
At the four-way stop turn right on Buck Wolfe Drive and follow the signs. The public is invited.
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days of the month just above the southeastern horizon. It will bแทงบอลe best viewed about a half hour before sunrise.
ReplyDeleteThe Moon will be last quarter on the 5th, new on the 13th and 1st quarter on tgclubhe 21st and full on the 28th.
Looking southeast about a half hour before sunrise the waning crescent Moon will help you find tiny Mercury on the mornings of the 10th, 11th and 12th.
Looking west southwest on the 14th, 15th and 16th about 15 minutes after sunset, the crescent Moon will help you locate Jupiter and Venus. On the 25th, a nearly full gibbous Moon will be keeping company with the red planet Mars.