Interesting things that Bellatrix Orionis is hoping to observe.
Visual guide from Hubble
Planets
Mercury – can be found in the constellation of Sagittarius in the south east of the sky. It is best viewed on Tuesday 1 February before 07:55UT. Due to the position of the planet it is unlikely to be visible for the rest of the month.
Venus – can be found in the constellation of Sagittarius. It is best placed to view on Tuesday 1 February from 06:00UT onwards. It’s brightness goes from magnitude -4.2 to -4.0 by the end of February.
Mars – Is not visible this month.
Jupiter – can be found in the constellation of Pisces. It is best placed for viewing on Tuesday 1 February at 18:30UT and is at magnitude -2.0.
Saturn – can be found in the constellation of Virgo. It is best placed to view on Monday 28 February at 02:30UT, its at magnitude +0.6 at the beginning of the month and will be +0.4 by the end of February.
Uranus – can be found in the constellation of Pisces. It’s best placed to view on Monday 1 February at 18:30UT and is at magnitude +5.9.
Neptune – Is not visible this month.
Dwarf Planets
Pluto – Is a pre-dawn object and is magnitude +14.6.
Ceres – Is too close to the Sun to observe.
Eris – Can be found in the constellation Cetus, but is only visible with a CCD camera as it is magnitude +18.8.
Makemake – Can be found in the constellation of Coma Berenices, but also is only visible with a CCD camera and is magnitude +16.9.
Haumea – Is in the constellation of Bootes and also requires a CCD camera to enable observation and is magnitude +17.4.
Thursday 3 February
New Moon( rises at 07.24UT and sets at 17:42UT).
Sunday 6 February
Jupiter can be seen at approximately 18.30UT in the constellation of Pisces in the south west. Try resolving the Great Red Spot using binoculars or a telescope.
Monday 7 February
If you are an early riser you should be able to spot Venus at approximately 05:00UT. You’ll find it near the star Mu Sagittarii.
Wednesday 9 February
The minor planet (4) Vesta can be found near Venus in the earl morning approximately 05:30UT. Vesta is at magnitude +7.8 in the constellation of Sagittarius. (Binoculars or telescope needed to resolve Vesta).
Friday 11 February
First quarter Moon (rises 09.58UT and sets 01.34UT).
Friday 18 February
Full Moon (rises at 04:36UT and sets at06:44UT)
Sunday 20 February
The Orion Nebula (M42) is at its highest point in the sky at approximately 19:30UT.
Tuesday 22 February
The weak Delta Leonid meteor shower peaks today. The hourly maximum rate is 3 meteors per hour.
Thursday 24 February
Last quarter Moon (rises at 01:07UT and sets at 09:19UT).
The Beehive Cluster (M44) is at its highest point at 22:30UT.
Saturday 26 February
The Mira type variable star U Orionis is expected to be close to maximum brightness. The star varies between magnitude +6.3 and +12 over a period of 368 days.
Sunday 27 February
Epsilon Auriga, the longest period eclipsing binary star known should start to show signs of brightening as it slowly comes out of eclipse. Epsilons period is 27.1 years with an eclipse lasting between 640 to 730 days. There is a citizen science project looking at collecting information and analysing the star.
January 31, 2011 at 8:44 pm |
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