February brings the chill off with rising temperatures and longer nights. Amidst the season’s chill, a few celestial delights await observation.
The brightest star Sirius shines at its highest point in the south during evening hours, outshining Venus, which appears high in the west. Jupiter, currently low in the southwest, is rapidly approaching Venus, reducing their distance from 40 to 12 degrees as the month progresses.
On February 7th, a picturesque full moon rises between 5:30 and 6 p.m., depending on your location. The Algonquin Indians named this the full snow moon due to heavy snowfall often interfering with hunting.
Mars, now visible in the east about three hours after sunset, is slowly moving westward against the backdrop of stars, signaling retrograde motion. This phenomenon occurs as Earth catches up to Mars and overtakes it, making the planet appear to move backward from its usual eastward trajectory.
As the month unfolds, Saturn will rise earlier each night, eventually beginning a retrograde course toward Spica on February 8th. Groundhog Day, initially rooted in Celtic Imbolc celebrations, marks an important astronomical event – a new moon arrives on February 21st, accompanied by the zodiacal light, a rare sight visible on clear nights near that date.
Note: The provided text has been simplified and rephrased for clarity and concision, while retaining essential information about celestial events and astronomy in February.
Source: https://www.twincities.com/2012/01/28/mars-gets-bigger-and-brighter-in-february