This week most of Western Canada has been thrust into a deep freeze that is set to last for a couple weeks. Once the snow goes away the cold Winter skies offer some of the clearest views of the heavens. Mars still sits high in the sky, although a fraction of its brightness from last Summer. It sits about as bright as the big red star of Orion, Betelgeuse. Mars is currently in the constellation of Aries and, day by day, it makes its way to northern Taurus. It will meet up with the Pleiades Star Cluster during the first week of March; be sure to dust off your binoculars!
On February 8, Mercury will be at inferior conjunction whereby it will be between the Earth and the Sun. The next time us Northern Hemisphere residents will get a good chance to see it will be the middle of May when it sits above the western horizon after sunset. As for the other unaided eye planets they are all sitting around our Sun and are too difficult to see.
The Moon will be at its new phase on February 11 and the Chinese New Year will begin the next day. Happy New Year! It will be the year of the Ox.
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| Happy New Year! (Image Credit: Shutterhshock) |
Astrochemist Ashley Walker will be talking about planetary atmospheres and will highlight that of Saturn's moon Titan! If you haven't already signed up for this free online event you must get on it! This event will take place on February 18 at 7:30pm MST! I hope to see you there!
https://www.meetup.com/The-Calgary-Astronomy-Meetup-Group/events/275832274/
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