Sky Chart For The Month of February, 2012
ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2012
The Moon
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Full Moon occurs on 8th at h. 03-24 I.S.T. |
Last Quarter occurs on 14th at h. 22-34 I.S.T. |
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New Moon occurs on 22nd at h. 04-05 I.S.T. |
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The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 23rd . |
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The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 12th and at Apogee or farthest from nearest to the Earth on 27th. |
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The Moon passes about 10º south of Mars on 10th, about 6º south of Saturn on 13th, about 6º north of Neptune on 22nd, about 6º north of Mercury on 23rd, about 5½º north of Uranus shortly after sunset of 24th, about 3½º north of Venus on 26th, about 4º north of Jupiter on 27th
The Planets
The Visibility of Planets :
Mercury: The planet is too close to the sun to become visible, being in Superior Conjunction with respect to the Sun on 7th. It reappears in evening sky on 19th and sets after sunset for the remaining days of the month. It sets about ½ hour to 1hour after sunset during the period.
Venus: It is a brilliant object visible in the evening sky and sets about 3 hours after sunset throughout the month.
Mars: The planet rises after sunset and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight. It rises about 3 hours to 2½ hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 1½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1 hour to very close to sunset time for the remaining days of the month. It approaches the Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the sun on 16th.
Jupiter: The planet can be seen in the evening sky and sets before local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 1hour to 1½ hours before local midnight upto second quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it upto third quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.
Saturn: The planet rises before local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of the morning twilight. It rises about 1 hours to 1½ hours before local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 3 hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet is Retrograde with respect to the Sun on 7th.
Uranus: The planet is seen in the evening sky and sets after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 3½ hours to 3 hours after sunset 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.
Neptune: The planet sets about 1½ hours to ½ hour after sunset upto second quarter of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 20th
Conjunction of Planets :
Venus passes about ½º north of Uranus on 10th..
Mercury passes about 1½º south of Neptune on 14th..
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Planets |
Planets in Zodiacal Constellation |
Magnitude |
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Mercury (Budha) |
Moves from Capricorn’s (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 11th Moves from. Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 27th. |
-0.9 to –1.5 -1.5 to –0.8 |
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Venus (Sukra) |
Moves from. Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 3rd Moves from Pisces (Mina) to Aries (Mesha) on 29th. |
-4.2 |
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Mars (Mangala) |
Remains in Leo (Simha ) |
-0.5 to –1.1 |
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Jupiter (Brihaspati) |
Remains in. Aries (Mesha) |
-2.3 |
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Saturn (Sani) |
Remains in Libra (Tula ) |
+0.5 |
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Uranus |
Remains in Pisces (Mina). |
+6.0 |
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Neptune |
Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha). > |
+8.0 |
Source : : Director
Positional Astronomy Centre
India Meteorological Department
Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.