Sky Chart For The Month of February, 2010

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2010

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 6^th at h. 05-18 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 14th at h. 08-21 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 22^nd at h. 06-12 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 28th at h. 22-08 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 15th.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 13^th and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 28^th.

The Moon passes about 8º south of Saturn on 3^rd, about 2½º north of Mercury on 12^th, about 3½º north of Neptune on 14^th, about 5½º north of Venus and about 5º north of Jupiter on 15^th, 6º north of Uranus on 17^th and about 5½º south of Mars on 26^th

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet can be seen low in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight upto third quarter of the month. It rises about 1½ hours to ½ hour before sunrise during the period. Thereafter it is too near the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month. The planet approaches Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the Sun on 13^th.

Venus: The planet is too near the Sun to be visible upto 6^th of the month. Thereafter it reappears in the western sky and sets about ½ hour to 1 hour after sunset for the remaining days of the month.

Mars: The planet rises near sunset time and sets near sunrise time during first quarter of the month. Thereafter it sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise upto second quarter of the month, 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and 1½ hours to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Jupiter: The planet can be seen in the evening low in the western sky after sunset upto second quarter of the month. It sets about 1½ hours to 1 hour after sunset during that period. Thereafter it is too near the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 28^th.

Saturn: The planet rises after sunset and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 3½ hours to 3 hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Uranus: The planet can be seen in the evening in the western sky after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 3 hours to 2½ hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet can be seen in the evening in the western sky and sets about 1 hour to ½ hour after sunset upto first quarter of the month. Thereafter it is too near the Sun to be visible, being in conjunction with the Sun on 15^th. It reappears in the eastern sky, rises about ½ hour before sunrise during end of the month and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight.

Conjunction of Planets :

Venus passes about 1º south of Neptune on 8th.

Venus passes about ½º south of Jupiter on 17th .

Mercury passes about 2º south of Neptune on 27th .

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 6^th and Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 26th.	-0.2 to -0.6
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 6^th.	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Remains in Cancer ( Karkata).	-1.2 to -0.5
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	-2.0
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Virgo (Kanya).	+0.7
Uranus	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.