The February Sky is Sure to Delight!
January 31, 2022
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By: Brad Nuest
Stargazing is a great way to connect to ancient people since the predictable workings of the heavens were so integral to their cultures. And winter skies deliver some of the year’s best viewing with a number of the brightest stars situated in the southern sky. So get out and enjoy! Here are a few things you can see this month.
February is a great month to take in the splendor of Orion the Hunter. He is high in the southeastern sky as darkness falls, making him well-positioned for easy viewing. Just look for his signature 3-star-in-a-row pattern that makes up his belt. The surrounding rectangle of stars punctuated by reddish Betelgeuse in the upper left are bright and easily seen, even in the wash of city lights. But the best views of course will always be under dark rural skies.
According to the Greeks, Orion was the mighty hunter who boasted he would kill all the wild beasts of Earth. To punish Orion for his arrogance, the goddess Gaia sent a giant scorpion to kill him by stinging him on the heel. We find that wicked beast in the evening summer sky.
As you’re gazing at Orion, try looking for his dog Canis Major. Follow his belt down to the left to the bright star Sirius. This bluish star outshines all others in the night sky and marks the neck of Orion’s trusty dog. Trace out the bright stars nearby to reveal a stick figure of the dog.
Turning our attention to the planets, Jupiter is the only visible planet still occupying the evening sky. The Jovian King hangs low in the southwest just after sunset. The great news for observers is that you won’t find a brighter object unless the moon is nearby, making Jupiter a breeze to locate. A small telescope can even reveal Jupiter’s four largest moons and horizontal bands on the planet’s surface.
Three more planets occupy the dawn sky just before sunrise. Looking east between 6:30 and 7:00 am, Venus is by far the most obvious. Earth’s closest neighbor is so bright it’s often mistaken for an airplane or even a UFO! Down a little to the right of Venus is our other neighbor, ruddy Mars. And sitting just above the horizon, washed in the glow of morning twilight, sits elusive Mercury. These three planets require a clear eastern horizon for viewing, free of trees and houses.
For earlier risers outside walking the dog or drinking coffee while taking in the sunrise, some great planetary viewing awaits you! Happy stargazing!
Looking southeast in the evening sky after darkness falls.
Looking southwest just after sunset.
Looking east southeast before sunrise.
