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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between February 1 and February 28, 2025. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury begins February close to the sun and cannot be observed. On the 23^rd, the sun sets at 5:45 p.m., PST, and Mercury sets in the west at 6:40 p.m., PST, 55 minutes later, and is 91-percent illuminated and 5.4 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, the sun sets at 5:49 p.m., PST, and Mercury sets in the west at 7:03 p.m., PST, one hour 14 minutes later, and is 79-percent illuminated and 5.9 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west at 9:00 p.m., PST, on the 1^st, and the sun sets at 5:24 p.m., PST. The planet is 38-percent illuminated and is 32 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:17 p.m., PST. The planet is 16-percent illuminated and 48 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1^st, Mars sets in the west-northwest at 5:57 a.m., PST, and is 99-percent illuminated and 14 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, Mars sets at 3:55 a.m., PST, and is 94-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide.

Jupiter is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 2:51 a.m., PST, and is 99-percent illuminated and 43 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 1:09 a.m., PST, and is 99-percent illuminated and 40 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot and the four bright Galilean moons moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Aquarius the Water Bearer. On the 1^st, the sun sets at 5:24 p.m., PST, and Saturn sets in the west at 8:05 p.m., PST, and is 100-percent illuminated and 16 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, the sun sets at 5:49 p.m., PST, and Saturn sets at 6:34 p.m., PST, 45 minutes later. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan may be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Aries the Ram. On the 1^st, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 1:25 a.m., PST, and is 100-percent illuminated and 3.6 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 11:36 p.m., PST. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 24^m 9^s with a declination of +18° 23ʹ 4ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show the disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune sets in the west at 8:55 p.m., PST, and is 100-percent illuminated and 2.2 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, Neptune sets at 7:13 p.m., PST, one hour 24 minutes after the sun sets. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 56^m 9^s with a declination of -1° 47ʹ 45ʺ. A telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show the disk.

First quarter occurs on the 5^th, full moon on the 12^th, last quarter on the 20^th, and new moon on the 27^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

In the major lunar standstill of 2024-2025, the February, 2025, northernmost moon rises on the 8^th as an 85-percent waxing gibbous moon, at 1:38 p.m., PST, and sets as an 89-percent illuminated moon on the 9^th at 5:01 a.m., PST. Griffith Observatory will not host a public event or a web broadcast. The southernmost moon occurs when the 30-percent waning crescent moon rises on the 22^nd, at 2:40 a.m., PST, and when it sets at 12:06 p.m., PST. Griffith Observatory will not host a public event or a web broadcast. For details on the major lunar standstill, please visit the website at https://griffithobservatory.org/extreme-moon-the-major-lunar-standstills-of-2024-2025/

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