Hubble House Telescope picture of the massive “grand design” spiral galaxy M81. A spiral-shaped system of stars, mud, and fuel clouds, the galaxy’s arms wind all the way in which down into the nucleus. Although the galaxy is positioned 11.6 million light-years away, the Hubble House Telescope’s view is so sharp that it could possibly resolve particular person stars, together with open star clusters, globular star clusters, and even glowing areas of fluorescent fuel. Credit score: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Workforce (STScI/AURA). Acknowledgment: A. Zezas and J. Huchra (Harvard-Smithsonian Heart for Astrophysics)
What are some skywatching highlights in February 2024?
Venus begins its exit from the morning sky, as Mars makes its comeback. Plus, now via Might is an effective time to watch spiral galaxy M81.
What to Search for:
Shifting planets and a spiral galaxy
Venus is starting its exit from morning skies this month, simply as Mars returns to visibility. Jupiter and the Moon make a cute couple on Valentine’s Day. And level your telescope close to the Large Dipper to hunt out M81, aka “Bode’s Galaxy.”
February skywatching highlights:
- All month – Venus remains to be good within the jap sky earlier than dawn, however it’s sinking decrease every day, so catch it whilst you can!
- All month – Mars is beginning to be seen within the predawn sky. It’s fairly low, and never tremendous shiny but, however watch it get larger and brighter over the subsequent few months.
- February 6 – Spot Venus along with a slim crescent Moon within the east this morning, simply because the sky begins to brighten.
- February 9 – New moon
- February 14 – This night, search for the crescent Moon very close to to Jupiter, excessive within the southwest following sundown.
- February 22-28 – This week, these with an unobstructed view towards the southeast horizon can search for an in depth method of Mars and Venus because the pair are rising.
- February 24 – Full moon
- All month – Observing one of the crucial well-known “faint fuzzies,” M81, is comparatively straightforward over the subsequent few months, via round Might. The Large Dipper can assist you find this distant spiral galaxy, which you’ll see with a small telescope and even binoculars.
Sky chart displaying Venus with the Moon on the morning of February 6, 45 minutes earlier than dawn. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Video Transcript
What’s Up for February? Venus and Mars make fairly the pair, Jupiter and the Moon are one another’s Valentine, and observing M81, aka “Bode’s Galaxy.”
Venus remains to be an excellent beacon within the morning, rising within the couple of hours earlier than the Solar. It has been steadily sinking decrease within the sky for the previous couple of months, although, and by the top of February it’s just about getting misplaced within the gentle of dawn.
It’ll begin making its return as a night sight in July. You possibly can catch the intense planet along with a slim crescent Moon on the morning of February sixth, simply because the sky begins to brighten.
Subsequent, Valentine’s Day brings a pleasant pairing to take pleasure in with somebody particular. That night, search for the crescent Moon close to Jupiter, excessive within the southwest following sundown. They’re simply a few finger widths aside on the sky, which means most binoculars will present them in the identical discipline of view.
And talking of the Moon, NASA’s VIPER moon rover is deliberate to launch later this 12 months, and you’ll ship your identify to the Moon together with it! Go to nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-viper for particulars.
Sky chart displaying Jupiter and the Moon on the night of February 14. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Returning to the interior planets, as Venus begins its exit, we discover Mars returning to view. The Pink Planet left the night sky final September, passing via conjunction, the place it was on the alternative facet of the Solar from Earth, and thus not seen for a couple of months. It’s now simply beginning to be seen within the predawn sky. In February it’s fairly low, and never tremendous shiny, however you’ll be able to observe it brightening and rising ever earlier within the coming months. These with an unobstructed view towards the southeast horizon can search for an in depth method of Mars and Venus because the pair are rising over the last week of February.
February is an effective time to view one of many famed “Messier objects” generally known as M81.
It is a spiral galaxy just like our personal Milky Means, however only a bit smaller, and it’s one of many brightest galaxies within the night time sky. It’s positioned about 11.8 million gentle years away from us, which suggests, should you’re in a position to observe it, these photons of sunshine hitting your eye have been touring via area for greater than 11 million years to achieve you.
Sky chart displaying the place M81 is positioned within the sky, with regard to the Large Dipper asterism. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech
It was found by astronomer Johann Bode in 1774, which is the place it will get its different frequent identify, “Bode’s Galaxy.” On the time, it was merely cataloged as a nebula or faint, fuzzy patch. It wouldn’t be till the work of Edwin Hubble within the Twenties that many such faint, fuzzy objects have been understood to be self-contained galaxies of stars, exterior the Milky Means and extremely distant from us.
M81 is a bit too dim to see with the unaided eye, however it’s seen with binoculars or a small telescope, the place it seems as a dim patch of sunshine. With a 6-inch telescope you’ll be able to resolve the galaxy’s shiny core, and with an 8-inch telescope, you’ll be able to start to make out the spiral arms.
Finding M81 isn’t too tough, with the Large Dipper (or the Plough) to information you. Beginning with the star on the top nook, known as Dubhe, think about a line twice the gap from the star on the alternative nook of the Dipper, Phecda. Pointing your telescope or binoculars in that space must put you fairly near M81. You may additionally discover its
faint, fuzzy companion close by, which is M82. That is one other galaxy, however seen edge-on, and it will get its different frequent identify, the “Cigar Galaxy,” from this look.
This pair of galaxies is “circumpolar” within the Northern Hemisphere, which means they rotate across the north celestial pole and by no means set. (Sadly, this implies they’re probably not seen from the Southern Hemisphere.) Though it’s seen all 12 months within the Northern Hemisphere, from about February via Might, you’ll discover M81 excessive within the northern sky within the first half of the night time, making it simpler to watch.
So seize your telescope, or discover a native astronomy occasion with NASA’s Night time Sky Community, and take a look at M81, Bode’s Galaxy, a distant cousin to our dwelling galaxy, the Milky Means.
Listed here are the phases of the Moon for February.
The phases of the Moon for February 2024. Credit score: NASA/JPL-Caltech
