| February is the second month in the Gregorian calendar and usually consists of 28 days. Usually, ever four years February will have 29 days in a year known as a Leap Year. In the original Roman calendar, the Winter months of January and February were considered part of a monthless Winter period. At that time, the year began on March 1. The months of January and February were added around 700 BC by King Numa Pomplius. The name of February comes from the term ‘Februltus’, which means ‘a righting of wrongs.’ February was the time of purification rituals in ancient Rome. |
The New Moon occurs on February 17th, 2007, This makes the weekend of February 17th-18th the best weekend for dark sky viewing.
The full moon this month is on February 1st, 2007. This full moon is known as the "Full Snow Moon."
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Mercury will reach its Greatest Eastern Elongation on February 7th, 2007. This will provide the best evening views as it will be 18° 14′ from the Sun. Mercury will set about one hour and 13 minutes after sunset on this date. Also on February 7th, Venus and Uranus will be in conjunction, being less than 0° 45′ of each other. |
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Mercury is located in the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer) at the start of the month and is visible in the evening for the first 3 weeks on February, then is disappears into the glare of the Sun, finally it re-emerges around February 28th in the morning as it crosses into the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat).
| On February 13th, Mercury and Uranus will be in conjunction, being less than 13° 15′ of each other. |  |
Venus is the Evening Star this month and is prominent all evening, all month. As the month progresses Venus improves its position away from the Sun. Venus starts out the month in the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer). On February 16th Venus moves into the constellation Pisces (The Fish) until February 26th when it moves into the constellation Cetus (The Sea Monster), only to return to Pisces at the end of the month on February 28th.
On February 7th Venus and Uranus will be in conjunction, being less than 0° 45′ of each other.
Mars is visible all month during the morning hours. Between February 1st and 25th Mars is located in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) then it spends the rest of February in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat).
On February 14th, 2007 Mars rises within 8° of the waning crescent moon.
Jupiter can be observed all month during the morning hours and is located in the constellation Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer) then it spends the rest of February in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat).
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On February 12th, 2007, around 3:30 am, Jupiter rises within 8° of the waning crescent moon. |
Saturn will come to Opposition on February 10th, 2007.
| On February 2nd, 2007 Saturn will come within 3° 25′ of the waning gibbous moon. |  |
Uranus is located in the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer) until the year 2009 and is visible in the evening for the first half of the month and then disappears into the glare of the Sun.
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On February 7th Venus and Uranus will be in conjunction, being less than 0° 45′ of each other and on February 13th, Mercury and Uranus will be in conjunction, being less than 13° 15′ of each other. The movie to the left shows the position of Uranus reative to the surrounding celestial objects for the entire month of February. Each frame is a sidereal day. |
Neptune is located in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat) until the year 2010. Neptune appears from the glare of the morning Sun on the last week of February.
Pluto can be found until the year 2023 in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer). Pluto can be observed all month in the morning hours. At the first of the month Pluto rises around 4:00 am and by the end of the month Pluto will rise arount midnight.
| On February 13th, 2007, Pluto can be found about 13° 11′ above the waning crescent moon. |  |
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