What’s visible in February 2013?

What's visible in the sky above Liverpool in February 2013? Map is valid for: 1st February 2013 at 23:00 UTC 15th February 2013 at 22:00 UTC 28th February 2013 at 21:00 UTC

(click to enlarge)
What’s visible in the sky above Liverpool in February 2013?
Map is valid for:
1st February 2013 at 23:00 UTC
15th February 2013 at 22:00 UTC
28th February 2013 at 21:00 UTC

The Sun

31st January 2013 5th February 2013 10th February 2013 15th February 2013 20th February 2013 25th February 2013 2nd March 2013
Sunrise 07:59 UTC 07:50 UTC 07:40 UTC 07:30 UTC 07:20 UTC 07:09 UTC 06:57 UTC
Sunset 16:52 UTC 17:03 UTC 17:13 UTC 17:23 UTC 17:33 UTC 17:42 UTC 17:52 UTC

The Moon

Simple Lunar Phase: Last Quarter Simple Lunar Phase: New Simple Lunar Phase: First Quarter Simple Lunar Phase: Full Simple Lunar Phase: Last Quarter
Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
Date 3rd February 2013 10th February 2013 17th February 2013 25th February 2013 4th March 2013
Time 13:57 UTC 07:20 UTC 20:31 UTC 20:26 UTC 21:53 UTC

The Moon will be close to Mercury and Mars for part of the month (see entry on Mercury below) and over the evenings of February 10th – 13th a very thin crescent moon will be visible nearby. On the 11th the Moon will lie approximately 4° North of Mercury, making it a useful guide to locating the planet in the sky.

Planets

Mercury

February sees an evening apparition of Mercury in the Western sky just after Sunset, peaking between the 15th and 20th February. As indicated by the table below, Mars and the Moon will also be close by in the sky, and on 8th February, a conjunction occurs with Mars being within 15 arc-minutes (¼°) of Mercury.

Mercury Mars Moon
Date Time (UTC) ALTITUDE ° AZIMUTH ° ALTITUDE ° AZIMUTH ° ALTITUDE ° AZIMUTH °
February 5th 2013 17:43 UTC 3.7° 243° 6.0° 242°
February 10th 2013 17:52 UTC 7.0° 245° 5.3° 246°
February 11th 2013 17:54 UTC 7.6° 246° 5.2° 246° 11.0° 249°
February 12th 2013 17:56 UTC 8.1° 246° 5.0° 247° 21.2° 242°
February 15th 2013 18:01 UTC 9.3° 248° 4.6° 249°
February 20th 2013 18:10 UTC 9.3° 253° 3.9° 253°
February 25th 2013 18:19 UTC 5.8° 260° 3.0° 257°

Mars

As noted above, Mars will be in conjunction with Mercury on February 8th, when they will be ¼° of each other. As the month progresses, Mars will be become more difficult to see as it approaches its Solar conjunction next month, and so will be lost in the glare of the Sun.

Jupiter

Jupiter is well placed, and can be easily spotted in the constellation of Taurus. On February 18th a conjunction will occur with the Moon (which is 1 day past 1st quarter) bringing the two objects about 1½° degrees apart.

Saturn

Saturn begins the month rising at about 01:00 UTC, and ends it rising at 23:20 UTC, making observations easier than earlier in the year. Saturn reached Greatest Western Quadrature at the end of January, so the rings are open as viewed from Earth, and you may be able to see their shadow cast on to the planet’s atmosphere.

Asteroids

On February 15th, Near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 passes close to the Earth, with closest-approach at 19:26 UTC when it will be within geosynchronous orbit. It is not expected to achieve a brightness greater than about Mag. 7
More info: http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2012-da14-will-pass-very-close-to-earth-in-2013

Comets

Comet C/2011 L4 (Pan-STARRS) is not currently visible in the Northern Hemisphere but should be observable in March.

Meteors

Name of Shower Date of Peak Notes
Alpha-Aurigid 6th-9th February 2013 New Moon occurs on the 10th February 2013, aiding observation.

Occultations

Date Time Event Object Occulted Occulted by
23rd February 2013 22:54 UTC Disappearance 60-Cancri The Moon