Hint of spring in the February skies

WE are still in the depths of winter and the winter constellations are splendidly on display. However, there is a hint of spring in the sky if we use the Ursa Major or the Plough to help us.

The Plough is now higher in the north east, with its handle pointing in the general direction of the horizon. If you follow the curve of the handle you will come to a bright orange star low in the sky. This is Arcturus in the constellation of Bootes (the Herdsman). Arcturus is the brightest star in the spring sky. There will be more on Arcturus later in the year. The ‘W’ of Cassiopeia is high in the north west.

As for the winter constellations, Orion still dominates the southern part of the sky. However, as Orion is a little to the west of south, now is the best time to see Sirius the Dog Star. This is the brightest star in the sky. As I mentioned last month, by drawing a line down and to the left of the three stars that form Orion’s belt you will reach Sirius.

The stars are a very long way away. Sirius, although the brightest, is in fact very close to us, being about 8.5 light years away. The universe is so big that astronomers use the speed of light rather than the mile as a unit of measure in space. Light travels at about 186,000 miles per second which means that in one light year, light will travel about six million million miles. This means that in mile terms Sirius is about 51 million million miles away, or 51 followed by 12 zeros.

In fact, light takes so long to reach us from Sirius that if you are about eight years old and you look at Sirius this winter, the light which will enter your eye will have left Sirius the year they you were born.

Of the other winter stars, Aldebaran and the Seven Sisters in Taurus are now starting to get lower in the west, while Castor and Pollux together with Procyon are now at their highest points. Capella is still high, being just past the overhead position. However, while Capella is very high, Vega, which occupied the overhead point in summer, is now at its lowest, close to the northern horizon. In six months' time the positions will be reversed.

What’s up in The Solar System?

The Planets in February

If you like planet watching in the evening then the only one available is Jupiter; it rises at about 10pm. It appears as a very bright white object in the sky.

In the morning sky you can see the planet Mars which looks like a fairly bright red ‘star’. Look up at about 6am and it will be high in the sky. Of the other bright planets, Saturn which appears as a yellow looking ‘star’ about the same brightness as Mars, is low in the south close to the horizon. Mercury and Venus are both really too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Meteor Showers

There are no major meteor showers this month.

The Moon in February

On February 15, the first quarter Moon forms a triangle with Aldebaran and the Seven Sisters.

On February 23, the Moon will lie to the right of Jupiter.

Phases of the Moon

Last Quarter 1st, New Moon 8th, First Quarter 15th, Full Moon 22nd

This month’s full moon is called the ‘Snow Moon’, because in medieval times when the moons were named February was the month when lots of snow could be expected to fall.

The next meeting of the Earby Astronomical Society will be at All Saints’ Church, Earby, tomorrow from 7.30pm to 9pm. This is the post-Christmas party and astro quiz to which all are welcome.