Saturday 26-01-2019 - 12:38

The month of February is that of the planets. Watch throughout the month as the morning planets Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn "dance" with the Moon 

• February 1st: At 6:15am, look to the south-eastern skies for Jupiter, Venus and the Moon to form a diagonal line, with Saturn appearing soon after at ~7:00am. While the Astrosoc will not be doing anything during this event, it is quite rare that so many planets can come together asa such in the skies.
• February 2nd: In parts of the UK, the Moon will be obscuring Saturn as they rise at 6:30am. Up here in Lancaster, the occultation doesn't happen, however the pair will be very close in the skies.
• February 3rd: At 5:30am, observing the rising Jupiter with a telescope will reveal the shadow of Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, cross the surface of the gas giant. 
• February 12th: Mars and Uranus are extremely close together in the evening around 6pm, within 1°, though to see Uranus in the sky you will need a telescope or a good pair of binoculars. 
• February 18th: Venus and Saturn are extremely close in the morning sky, just 1.1° apart as they rise in the south-east. This evening also, Mercury and Neptune will be around 1° apart just after sunset. You will need a small telescope or binoculars in order to see Neptune alongside the naked eye Mercury.
• February 19th: The night of the full Moon. On this night, it is recommended you don't observe the Moon as it will be too bright through a telescope and could damage your eyes. With a suitable filter, however, it would be fine. 
• February 28th: Jupiter and the crescent Moon are 7.6° apart in the morning at around 6:30am. Venus will be nearby, and Saturn in close vicinity also. And thus ends the month's planetary dance.