Sky this Month : February / March 2013
Martin takes the stage
The objects detailed below will be visible with binoculars or to the un-aided eye.
First of all, there is a handy tip for judging distances in the sky. If you extend your arm and make a fist, holding your arm up to the sky, your fist will cover approximately 10° of the sky.
The Sun
On 11th February, the Sun rose at 07:22 and set at 17:08 with an altitude at noon of 25° (in London). In one month, on 11th March, the Sun will rise at 06:23 and set at 17:58, 1 hour 50 mins longer and will attain an altitude at noon 35°. The Sun’s altitude in December at solstice is just 15°, whilst at the June solstice, it is 62°. At the Spring Equinox on 20th March 2013, we experience equal night & day length. The Sun only rises due east and sets due west around Equinoxes.
The Moon
Winter Constellations
These constellations (e.g. Orion) are high in the sky at dusk. Later in the night, Leo and the “Spring” constellations will rise in the east.
Planets
Mercury is visible just after sunset around the 15th-20th February, with a 15° maximum elevation. Mars is low down in west at sunset, but you’ll be lucky to find it! Venus, Uranus & Neptune are too close to the Sun this month. Jupiter in the constellation of Taurus is unmistakable and can be seen high in the south in the early evening. Saturn rises just before midnight and is due south around 0500, so it is for early birds, but is worth looking out for. If you have a telescope, look for the rings; these have about 19° tilt, so look for the planet’s shadow on them. Look also for Titan – it orbits Saturn in just under 16 days – you might be able to make out its orange colour. It has a thick atmosphere of nitrogen, methane & ethane and it rains hydrocarbons there!