From Dark Skiesīright outdoor lighting can make it hard to see all but the brightest stars. Other bright stars to look for this month are Capella in Auriga the Charioteer, and Procyon in Canis Minor the Small Dog. The bright star Regulus marks the regal heart of the lion. Rising in the east is our first early-evening glimpse of the spring constellation Leo the Lion. Under dark skies you may just be able to pick out two stick-figure bodies leading back towards Orion. The bright stars Castor and Pollux mark the heads of the twins. While your eyes alone may just see six or seven stars in this cluster, a pair of binoculars will reveal dozens of stars.ĭon’t mistake Aldebaran for Mars! A good rule to tell the difference: planets don’t twinkle like stars! Mars starts the month near Aldebaran and the Pleiades, but over the following weeks will move towards Taurus’ horn tips.įollow Orion’s belt down and to the left for the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, in Canis Major the Big Dog.ĭraw a line from Orion’s blue-colored foot Rigel up through Betelgeuse, and keep on going until you run into Gemini the Twins. Look just past Aldebaran and you may see a grouping of stars called M-45, or the Pleiades Star Cluster. Together, Aldebaran and the Hyades mark the face of Taurus the Bull. It just happens to sit in front of the star cluster, lining up in just the right spot. Aldebaran is not part of the Hyades itself.
The rest of the stars are part of a cluster called the Hyades. At one end of the V-shape is a bright orange-red star called Aldebaran. Follow the belt stars up and to the right to find a “V”-shaped group of stars. Learn to find Orion, and he can direct you to many other sights of the winter sky. Betelgeuse, one of his shoulder stars, is distinctly red in color. Look for the three stars in a straight line that mark his belt, the two stars that mark his shoulders, and the two stars of his feet. The most famous and easily found constellation is Orion the Hunter. High in the south you can find the bright stars of the winter evening sky. The central peak of Cassiopeia’s W-shape also points you in the direction of Polaris. This group of stars can also help you find the North Star. While you’re facing north, look for a group of five stars known as Cassiopeia the Queen. The Big Dipper itself is officially Ursa Major the Great Bear. This group of stars is officially known as Ursa Minor the Little Bear. Polaris is at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. Polaris is not a particularly bright star, but it does remain fixed in the sky throughout the night and throughout the year. When you face Polaris, you’re facing due north. Use the two stars at the end of the bowl of the Dipper to point you to Polaris, also known as the North Star. The Big Dipper starts the evening low in the northeast, but will be high enough to easily see by 8 or 9 pm. Look for a beautiful thin crescent Moon to join the scene on February 22, A first quarter Moon appears near Mars on February 27. Venus will approach Jupiter throughout the month, and they will appear very close to each other on the evening of March 1. Keep an eye on Venus as it will move over time. Mars is currently appearing fainter as the distance between Earth and Mars grows. Not long after Jupiter appears, look for Mars high in the south. Even a good steady pair of binoculars will reveal up to four of Jupiter’s largest moons. Take a look through a telescope to see Jupiter’s cloud bands. Look above Venus for mighty planet Jupiter. It will get easier to spot as the month goes on, appearing higher over the horizon night by night. Look low in the southwest for brilliant Venus. There are three planets to see as the sky begins to darken this month.
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