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First Quarter (best seen in evening sky) 2 February.
Full Moon (visible all night) 9 February
Last Quarter (seen in pre-dawn sky and into the daytime) 16 February
New Moon (not visible) 25 FebruaryThe other planet that is clearly visible at the moment is Saturn. This will be rising about 8pm, and by 10pm will look like a moderately bright star, low in the east. During the night its altitude increases and it moves round to a well placed position in the south some time after midnight. Saturn is in the constellation of Leo. A distinguishing feature of this constellation is a kind of backwards question mark, the “full stop” bit of which is represented by the bright star Regulus. A few degrees to the lower left of this is another “star” of about the same brightness, which is actually the planet Saturn. It will still be possible (just) to see the rings of Saturn through a telescope in February, although this will become more difficult later in the year when they are edge on from our point of view.
It should be possible to see a comet this month. Comet Lulin may become bright enough to be visible with the unaided eye, and will be best seen in the second half of the month, moving through Virgo and towards Leo. At the end of the month the comet will be approaching the position of Saturn, which will make it easier to identify. For more detailed information, with charts, see websites such as spaceweather.com.
Author © 2008 Martyn Filsak.
Editor: ivorcogdell"at"hotmail.com
