Feb. 22 Moon and Regulus
A
”
king
”
among stars shines near the Moon tonight. It’s so close to the
Moon, in fact, that moonlight will leave it looking a little washed
out.
Feb. 22 Moon and Regulus
A “king” among stars shines near the Moon tonight. It’s so close to the Moon, in fact, that moonlight will leave it looking a little washed out. The star is Regulus, in the constellation Leo, the lion. Its name means “the little king.”
Feb. 23 Wolf Moon
The full Moon highlights tonight’s sky. Like all full Moons, the full Moon of Feb. has several names, and this month’s names all conjure forlorn wintertime images. The names include Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, and Wolf Moon.
Feb. 24 Warming Rays
As winter plays out here in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer, and the Sun is climbing a little higher in the sky. That combination means that a little more of the Sun’s energy is reaching our part of the globe, so for many of us the days are getting warmer.
Feb. 25 Lepus
Orion’s hunting dogs chase a rabbit across the south this evening. The rabbit is the constellation Lepus, which stands below Orion’s feet and to the right of Canis Major, the big dog. Look for the brightest star of Canis Major, Sirius, which is the brightest star in the night sky.
Feb. 26 Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and the planet Jupiter rise in late evening and climb high across the south later on. Jupiter looks like a brilliant star. Early Sunday, Jupiter and the Moon will pass within about a degree of each other — about twice the width of the Moon.
Feb. 27 Moon, Jupiter, and Spica
The star Spica stands just above the Moon as they rise late this evening. It’s actually a system of several stars, but from our great distance, the light blurs together into a single point. The much brighter planet Jupiter stands a bit farther above the Moon.
Feb. 28 Denebola
Denebola, a star whose name means “tail of the lion,” is visible throughout the night. It rises just after sunset and climbs almost directly overhead by midnight. It is well east of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the lion.
