2019 Week 9: (February 24-March 2)

This week in the sky we have several planetary conjunctions with the Moon.

Date	Event
February 26	Last Quarter
February 26	Mercury Greatest Elongation East
February 27	Jupiter 2°S of Moon
March 1	Saturn 0.3°S of Moon
March 2	Venus 1.2°N of Moon

The Moon will reach its Last Quarter phase on the 26th of February.  After that date it will befriend several of the Solar System's planets.  On Wednesday it will be only 2° away from the largest planet, Jupiter.  Two days later it will cruise by the large ringed planet of Saturn to eventually pair up with Venus the next night.  These are sights that are visible in the early morning before the Sun rises.

The weather has been unseasonably cold for the last 3 weeks and looks to continue throughout the following week.  Astronomers in Alberta have stayed indoors to avoid the punishing throes of Winter.

Stay warm this week but if you do catch yourself out after dark take the time to look up.  The Winter sky can offer some great visibility if you can manage the low temperatures!