2017 Week 8: (February 19-25)

The eighth week of the year does not have very much in the way of observing.  The table below shows the only scheduled item of interest.

Date	Event
Feb 20	Saturn 4°S of Moon

An image I took of Saturn on May 3, 2016 is shown below.  I hope to be able to use the high frame rate video camera this year to bring out more detail.

Saturn

Instead of dwelling on the lack of events throughout the week let's discuss what we can see -- The planets.

Mercury is sitting 12° from the Sun in the morning sky and nothing short of a miracle will allow you to see it at this time.  However, on April 1, Mercury will be at its greatest elongation east and visible at its best in the evening sky.  Keep posted for more details around that time so you can get a glimpse of our smallest planet.

Venus is still very bright in the southwestern sky but is starting to get dimmer as it approaches inferior conjunction.  This means it will pass in front of the sun.  As Venus approaches inferior conjunction its phase will continue to wane crescent until it is no longer visible.  If you can steady binoculars you might be able to see the crescent shape.

Earth is quite easy to see at this time of the year especially when the Sun is high in the sky.  If you look down you should be able to see it between your feet.

Mars is dim but very easy to see.  It is just a little south of Venus (up and to the left) by less than 8° (less than the size of your fist held at arms length).

Jupiter is starting to rise earlier in the evening and you will be able to see it just before midnight in the eastern skies.  It will be close to a bright star known as Spica (Alpha Virginis) in the constellation Virgo.  It will be approximately 2.5x brighter than the brightest star in the sky -- Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris)

Saturn unfortunately is still a morning object pulling itself above the horizon at approximately 5:00am.  

Uranus sits about 5° above Mars and is a binocular object if you have the patience and steady hand.

Neptune is extremely difficult to find at this time even with the finest backyard telescope.  It is heading for its conjunction with the Sun on March 3 and then will reappear in the morning skies later in the month.

The forecast today is for snow and the week is not looking too great.  Time to sit back and do some indoor astronomy!