Griffith Observatory Sky Report through February 28, 2019

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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through February 28th, 2019. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.

Look for the innermost planet, Mercury, beginning at about 6:00 p.m., when the sky first grows dark enough to see it. It then is located due west and a little more than ten degrees above the horizon. Through a telescope, it may be possible to see the phase of the tiny disk of Mercury. It will appear gibbous until the 25th, when it shows a half-lit disc, and it is crescent on following evenings.

Mars is easiest to see at about the time Mercury sets. It appears similar to a moderately bright orange star, and it gleams near the fainter stars of the constellation Aries the Ram from high in the western sky as darkness falls.

The moon’s waning phase changes from gibbous last quarter on the 26th, and then to crescent. The moon’s orbit around the Earth delays its appearance by about an hour on successive nights. Consequently, it rises at 11:31 p.m. on the 21st and at 2:31 a.m. on the 28th.

At 5:30 a.m.–before the dawn has advanced very far–the bright star Antares in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion, and the brilliant planets Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, are spectacular over the southeast horizon. The brightest planet, Venus, is lowest in the sky. To the upper right of Venus is gold-hued Saturn. The second brightest planet, Jupiter is to the upper right of Saturn. To the lower right of Jupiter shines orange Antares. The waning moon approaches this group until it appears above Antares on the 26th. It appears just above Jupiter on the 27th, and it moves between Jupiter and Venus on the 28th.

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 free 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 16th.

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.