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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through February 24th, 2016. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.
The moon illuminates the majority of the nighttime hours this week. The moon’s phase changes from waxing gibbous to full on the 22nd. The traditional American name for February’s full moon it the Snow Moon. On the following dates through the 24th, the moon’s phase is waning gibbous. Use a telescope to see dramatic long shadows highlighting the details of the large impact crater, Copernicus, shortly after the sun rises on Copernicus on Wednesday evening, the 17th.
The planet Jupiter, in the constellation Leo the Lion, can be seen above the eastern horizon by 7:30 p.m. The planet is high enough for detailed telescopic examination from about 9:45 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., and it crosses the southern meridian at about 1:20 a.m. Jupiter’s famous oval storm, the Great Red Spot, is closest to the center of Jupiter’s disk at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday the 21st.
The planet Mars is in the constellation Libra the Scales. Mars clears the east-southeast horizon at midnight, and appears similar to a bright orange star, but twinkles less than a star.
Golden planet Saturn, in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, rises above the east-southeast horizon at about 2:00 a.m. Saturn appears in the south-southeast at dawn. Saturn’s rings are a thrilling sight in almost any telescope.
The brightest planet, Venus, also rises in the east-southeast, and can first be seen by about 5:15 a.m. The innermost planet, Mercury, rises 15 minutes after Venus, and it is located five degrees to the lower left of Venus. The last day to see Mercury will be on the 23rd. There is only a brief period, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:04 a.m., when the planet is high enough to see before it is overwhelmed by the dawn’s light. This will also be the last chance to see the rare month-long appearance of all five bright planets together that started in January. Before the dawn is too bright, appearing from left to right, are the planets Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. The line they form spans more than 145 degrees, from the east-southeast to the west. On the 23rd the full moon appears as part of the line-up, in the west, below Jupiter. More information about the line of five planets is described and illustrated on our special web page.
The International Space Station will be brilliant when it crosses over Los Angeles on the evening of Friday, February 19th. The ISS will first be visible above the northwest horizon at 6:56 p.m. It passes nearly overhead at 6:59 p.m., and is visible for another minute as it moves toward the southeast horizon. The space station will vanish into the earth’s shadow while 35 degrees high, near the brilliant star Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog.
Free views of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday, before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for the schedule. The next public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, March 12th.
Follow the Sky Report on Twitter for updates of astronomy and space-related events.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com