Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday February 26th, and 27th, 2024 written by Joe Slomka
This is the Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday February 26th, and 27th, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 5:41 PM; night falls at 7:15. Dawn begins at 5:01 AM and ends with Sunrise at 6:35.
Eastern Virgo presents the Moon on both nights. Monday, the 17-day-old Moon sets at 7:37 AM and rises at 7:55 PM, by 9 PM it is 10° high, 29% illuminated and appears 29 arc-minutes in size. Tuesday’s Moon sets at 7:54 AM and rises at 8:56 PM, at 10 PM it is 10° high, 85% lit and sets at 8:12 AM on Wednesday, when, at 5 AM, you can see the Moon 1 1/2° to the right of the bright star Spica.
Evening planets are sparse. Saturn and Mercury are hidden by the Sun’s glare and Neptune is close to them. Jupiter shares Aries with western Uranus; both rise during daytime. By 8 PM, the giant planet is 32° high in the West, flares with minus 2nd magnitude, 36 arc-seconds and sets at 10:57 PM. Wednesday, the Jovian moon Io’s shadow begins crossing the planet at 12:19 AM and ends at 2:30 AM. The Great Red Spot (a giant storm) starts to appear at 1:28 AM. Uranus follows Jupiter by 9°; it shines with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 30° high at 8 PM and sets at 11:43 AM. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after Twilight.
Southeastern Capricornus displays Venus and Mars, who rise within minutes of each other and are only 2° apart. Mars rises at 5:36 AM, shines with 1st magnitude, 4 arc-seconds, 97% lit and 4° high at 6 AM. Venus rises at 5:39 AM, blazes with minus 3rd magnitude, 11 arc-seconds, 91% lit and 3° high.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is still visible, but approaching the western horizon. Monday, it rises at 3:54 AM, slightly brighter than last week at 7th magnitude, 91% lit and sets at 9:52 PM. It pops back up at 3:57 AM on Tuesday, in the Northeast, and is 15° high at 6 AM.
Why does February have only 28 days? Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, established the Roman calendar. The first month was Martius, named for Mars – the god of war. Following months were: Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November and December. His successor, King Numa, added Januarius and Februarius; this completed a lunar calendar of 12 months and 354 days. Julius Caesar made January the first month (after the god of beginnings). The Roman Senate named Quintilis for him – July, and stole a day from February to make a 31-day month. Augustus, his successor, renamed Sextilis for himself and borrowed another day from February to give August also a 31-day month, leaving February with 28. February 29 is a Leap Year Day, which helps keep the calendar in sync with the Sun.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka