The Night Sky for February 2008
Catch a Lunar Eclipse and Planetary Conjunctions
February begins and ends with two great planetary conjunctions and hosts a total lunar eclipse in the middle.
A total lunar eclipse occurs on February 20/21, 2008. The entirety of the eclipse is visible to the eastern half of America with the western half seeing the moon already eclisped as it rises. The partial phase begins at 8:43 pm EST. Subtract one hour for Central Time, two hours for Mountain Time, and so on. The total eclipse phase begins at 10:01 pm, ends at 10:51 pm, and the partial phase concludes at 12:09 am EST (on February 21). Read more about the February 20 total lunar eclipse.
Other Lunar Observing Highlights
On February 20, the same night as the lunar eclipse, the moon will lie in the constellation Leo very near Saturn and Regulus. The backward question-mark shape that marks Leo the Lion's head lie to the north. The period in the question mark is Regulus, shining at magnitude 1.4. During the eclipse it lies about two degrees from the moon.
Saturn, the brighter point of light near the moon, shines at magnitude 0.2, a little less than four degrees from the moon. Use a telescope to spot Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Scientists believe an ocean lies under Titan's icy surface, making Titan one of the most likely places in the solar system outside of Earth to harbor life.
Close Encounters with Venus
Venus's first conjunction of the month occurs on the first day of the month in the early hours before sunrise. On February 1, Jupiter and Venus lie just a half degree apart, or about half the amount of sky covered by your pinky when held at arm's length.
Look east-southeast about two hours before sunrise as the duo rises above the horizon. Venus will be a stunning bright light at magnitude -3.9. Jupiter will hold its own at magnitude -1.8. The two planets will be above the teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius. As a bonus for getting up early to see the conjunction, look just two degrees to the right of the planets to find globular cluster M22. Under dark enough skies it can be seen without binoculars or a telescope.
If you do have binoculars or a telescope, use them to take a better look at the conjunction and globular cluster. Even better, take a photo if you are so inclined. A telescope will show Jupiter’s four largest moons. These moons, called the Galilean moons, are the four satellites orbiting Jupiter. Jupiter and its moons will be lined up, from lower left to upper right, in this order: Callisto, Europa, Io, Jupiter, and Ganymede. Remember that if you are looking through a telescope the image will be inverted.
February's second great conjunction occurs on the morning of February 27. Venus has moved away from Jupiter and is now by Mercury in the constellation Capricornus. Venus will still be at magnitude -3.9 and Mercury will be shining at magnitude 0.2. Venus will be closer to the horizon with Mercury about one degree above. The two planets will rise only about one hour before the sun and therefore be harder to catch than the conjunction at the beginning of the month.
