Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, February 3rd and 4th, written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, February 3rd and 4th, written by Joe Slomka
The Sun sets at 5:12 PM; night falls at 6:48. Dawn begins at 5:30 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:06
Monday’s southwestern Moon, in Pisces, rises at 9:40 AM, by 7 PM it is 47° high, appears 32 arc-minutes, 35% illuminated and sets at 11:41 PM. Tuesday’s Moon slides to Aries, rises at 10:05 AM, 59° high, same size, and 46% lit. The Moon sets at 12:59 AM on Wednesday.
Saturn, Neptune and Venus congregate near the western horizon. Saturn stays first visible in Aquarius, rises at 8:41 AM, first magnitude, appears 16 arc-seconds, highest at 2:15 PM, 9° high at 7 PM and sets at 7:53 PM. Neptune and Venus share Pisces. Neptune rises at 9:01 AM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at 2:52 PM, 18° high and sets at 8:48 PM. Venus rises at 8:46AM, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, moderate 33 arc-seconds, 21° high, 36% lit and sets at 9:03 PM; this month the planet reaches Greatest Extension on the 14th blazing with minus 5, grows from 32 arc-seconds to 48, but lowers from 45° to 31° on the 28th.
Western Uranus is found in Aries between the Moon and Jupiter, rises at 11:10 AM, 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, highest at 6:21 PM, 64° high and sets a 1:38 AM.
Southeastern Jupiter occupies Taurus, becomes brightest once Venus sets, glimmers with minus 2nd magnitude, 43 arc-seconds, rises at 12:11 PM, 68° highest at 7:35 PM and sets at 3:08 AM. Monday finds the Great Red Spot on 7:30 PM; Ganymede begins a transit at 8:53 PM and ends at 11:09 PM. Tuesday also parades Ganymede which starts at 1:37 AM and the Great Red Spot at 5:09 AM. Wednesday also features the Great Red Spot at 1 AM. Jupiter becomes stationary on the 4th and then resumes prograde (eastern) movement.
Eastern Mars brings up the rear in Gemini, rises at 2:36 PM, minus 1st magnitude, 13 arc-seconds, 46° high at 7 PM, 73° highest at 10:19 PM and sets at 6:15 AM. This month, Mars fades from magnitude minus 1.1 to minus 0.03. Mercury is too close to the Sun for observing.
Our skies have a guest: Comet 29/Schwassmann-Wachmann. The comet comes to Opposition this month and is found close to Regulus in Leo. It rises at 6:16 PM, highest at 8:01 PM and sets at 7:33 AM. The comet is currently 15th magnitude, usually not available to small telescopes. However, the comet periodically undergoes sudden outbursts, about every 58 days, that can be as bright as 10th magnitude. The comet is a Centaur, that orbits between Jupiter and Neptune. Scientists think that the outburst is the result of methane and carbon monoxide under pressure that erupts, is heated by the Sun and expelled. If you undertake regular observations, you may be lucky to catch an eruption.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka