The Night Sky This Month: February
Here are some of the things to see in February:
Rigel
February Night Sky
Here are some of the things to see this month:
Winter Hexagon
The Winter Hexagon, also known as the Winter Circle, is a prominent winter asterism formed by seven stars prominent in the winter sky. These are Rigel in Orion, Aldebaran in Taurus, Capella in Auriga, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, Procyon in Canis Minor, and Sirius in Canis Major constellation. Sirius and Procyon are also part … [Read more…]
Night Sky Highlights in February
Here are some of the things to see in February:
Highlights of the Night Sky in February
Here are some of the planets, constellations and deep sky objects to see in February:
Witch Head Nebula – IC 2118
The Witch Head Nebula, also known by its official name, IC 2118, is a very faint reflection nebula in the constellation Eridanus. It was nicknamed the Witch Head because it looks like a profile of a wicked witch. The nebula is illuminated by the bright star Rigel in Orion. It lies at a distance of … [Read more…]
Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis, is the second brightest star in Orion constellation and the ninth brightest star in the sky. It is a supergiant star, distinctly red in colour, located at an approximate distance of 643 light years from Earth. It is an evolved star, one expected to explode as a supernova in a relatively near … [Read more…]
Sirius: The Dog Star
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, α Canis Majoris (Alpha Canis Majoris), or Canicula, is the single brightest star in the night sky.
Orion’s Belt
Orion’s Belt is one of the most familiar asterisms in the night sky, along with the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross. It is formed by three massive, bright stars located in our galaxy, in the direction of the constellation Orion, the Hunter: Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka. Two of the three stars are supergiants.
Highlights of the February Sky
Here are some of the planets, constellations and deep sky objects you can see in the night sky in February: 8 PM southeastern sky – Jupiter rising after sunset 11:30 PM eastern sky – Mars rising later in the evening, climbing higher throughout the night 9 PM southern sky – Orion constellation prominent in the … [Read more…]