SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Capricornus → Aquarius

The equation of time is at its absolute minimum on 11 February. Local noon as defined by the clock occurs over 14 minutes before the Sun crosses the meridian.

Mercury Aquarius → Capricornus → Aquarius

An evening sky object at the beginning of the month, Mercury heads back towards the Sun and is lost in the solar glare as it undergoes inferior conjunction on 15 February. It reappears in the morning sky ahead of the Sun a few days later. This elusive planet is best seen from northern latitudes early in the month and from the southern hemisphere after inferior conjunction.

Venus Sagittarius

Observers in the southern hemisphere get much the best views of Venus, the morning star. It is visible from northern latitudes too but does not rise nearly so high above the eastern horizon before sunrise as it does when seen from the southern hemisphere. However, it is particularly brilliant this month and should be easy to spot. The Moon has a close encounter with Venus on 26 February.

Mars Virgo

The red planet rises before midnight, about two hours ahead of Saturn.

Pallas Hydra → Sextans

2 Pallas reaches a particularly favourable opposition on 22 February. At a maximum apparent magnitude of +6.3, binoculars or a small telescope will be necessary to see this object.

Jupiter Gemini

At opposition early last month, the largest planet in the solar system is ideally placed for viewing in the evening hours.

Saturn Libra

At west quadrature on 11 February, the interplay of shadows — disc, rings, satellites — in the Saturnian system are at their most pronounced. Ten days later, the Moon occults the ringed planet. Saturn rises ever earlier, appearing around midnight at the end of the month.

Uranus Pisces

This green-coloured ice giant is getting increasingly difficult to see in the evening twilight as it approaches conjunction with the Sun in early April.

Neptune Aquarius

At solar conjunction on 23 February, the most distant planet in the solar system is unobservable this month.