In February, various astronomical sights may entice people to bundle up and spend some time outside during the final month of the meteorological winter sky.
Take note of the various critical astronomical events in the February night sky.
Stars and the Milky Way are seen in the night sky over Lebanon late on August 12, 2018 in the mountain area of Tannourine, north of Beirut.
Mercury, Venus, Mars Conjunction
Venus is that bright star, and WFLA said the planet is getting brighter by the day. It rises each day shortly before dawn, and since it is so brilliant, it may be seen for around 30 minutes after the sun rises.
On the morning of February 9, the highest brilliancy will occur, or the moment when it is brightest. It will still be visible in the sky after that, but it will fade dimmer with each passing day.
Mars and Mercury will rise slightly below Venus in the early sky around 40 minutes before dawn throughout the middle of the month, from February 11 to February 16. Although Mars and Mercury will be less bright, you should be able to tell the three planets apart from nearby stars.
Snow Full Moon
Aside from the planet's visibility across the sky this month, a Full Snow Moon will have a weather theme.
Full moons have been given several nicknames over the years due to the time of year they rise. In February, the full moon is no exception, garnering the nickname "Snow Moon" due to the numerous snowstorms that hit North America during the month.
Inverse said the Full Moon would peak on Thursday, February 17, after being set in the United States. But it will be visible at night, rising at 6 p.m. and peaking around midnight. In addition, the moon is full for roughly a day before and after it reaches its apogee.
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'Dog Star,' Orion and a Famous Star Cluster
Orion and its belt are among the more popular constellations. Stargazers can see this in the night sky throughout February as long as the weather cooperates. It will appear in the southeast sky shortly from sunset until 3 a.m. local time.
Sirius, popularly known as the "Dog Star," will be visible right below and to the left of Orion in the sky. Sirius may shine out more than the entire cluster of Orion since it is the brightest star in the night sky. As the night progresses, Orion may follow a collection of stars called the Pleiades star cluster.
Accuweather said this cluster of stars might be more challenging to see than Sirius or Orion, especially in light-polluted areas. Still, Orion's belt can help stargazers find it. Imagine a line from left to right via Orion's belt. It will nearly intercept the Pleiades, which are not far distant.
The Pleiades are commonly referred to as the Seven Sisters, despite the cluster containing more than seven stars. People living in cities may not see many stars at all. Still, the further they are from light-polluted locations, the more stars in the constellation will be visible.
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