February 2010

Venus!
Venus, the Goddess of Love, shines at magnitude -4 as it returns around Valentine's Day, February 14. Before this date, the planet is in the glow of sunset in the west. Jupiter is heading down toward Venus and the horizon and can be used as a guide to spot Venus. On February 14, about 15 minutes after sunset, a slim crescent moon will lie about five degrees to the right of Venus and Jupiter. Venus is the brighter light on the bottom and Jupiter is the -2 magnitude point above it. Two days later, on February 16, Venus and Jupiter will be nearly side by side and only a half degree apart at sunset. After this evening, Venus will be the higher planet as Jupiter disappears with the sun during sunset. Venus will remain the evening star for the next eight months until it leaves the night sky for its conjunction with the sun.

Moon near Planets
The moon passes close by a number stars, planets, and star clusters each month. The following is a list of interesting lunar appearances over the course of February 2010.

• February 1 - Saturn lower left of the moon
• February 2 - Saturn upper left of the moon
• February 3 - Moon 3 1/2 degrees to the lower right of Spica in Virgo
• February 25 - Moon lower left of Mars and lower right of Beehive Cluster
• February 27 - Moon below Regulus in Leo
• February 28 - Full Moon occurs at 11:38 a.m. EST