If you enjoy looking at the night sky and the stars, February’s the month for you. There will be multiple sights to see throughout the month. [1] If weather cooperates, a majority of people should be able to see the events. February is the final month of meteorological winter which is when it is great to see stars and constellations prominent in winter.
Orion, Sirius, And Pleiades
A famous constellation that is easy to spot is Orion the hunter. Orion is located in the southeastern sky all night. You may have noticed a bright star right below Orion- that is Sirius, the “Dog Star.” It is right below and to the left of the hunter. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Another star group is Pleiades or the “Seven Sisters.” If you follow Orion’s belt (the three stars in a line), to the right, it will nearly intercept Pleiades. Although it is called the “Seven Sisters,” it contains more than seven stars. People in the city may not be able to see it because of the light and pollution. These constellations can be seen throughout the month of February.
Look For Mercury
In the early morning of Wednesday, February 16, 2022, onlookers will be able to see Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. Mercury is hard to see because it’s too close to or hidden behind the sun. Onlookers can look to the southeastern horizon about 45-60 minutes before sunrise. Also able to be seen will be Venus and Mars.
Snow Moon
Also on February 16th will be a snow moon. The reason for a full moon being called a “snow moon” is because of the snowstorms that typically hit North America.
Make sure to get out and see these pretty sights in February!
Notes:
- ^https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/top-astronomy-events-february-2021/1135242 (go back ↩)
