February’s Planets

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30044, 31 January 1963, Page 7

February’s Planets

Man is now becoming the most hit ir toting object in the evening sky. Toward* 10 pm. it may be found tow in the north-east, to the right of the twin ston at the constellation. Gemini. Man is near opposition at present and therefor* at its brightest for the year—which places it as third brightest object to the evening sky after Sirius and Jupiter. It is considerably brighter than any neighbouring stoss and has a pronounced red hue, so it is easily identified, By the end at the month Man win rise early enough to be seen as soon as the sky darkens at night-fall. Over in the west, Jupiter is about to sink out of sight in the glow of the setting sun. Each evening it will drop tower and be harder to see until, by the end at February, it is loot to view. ■ Saturn has quite disappeared . from the evening sky and is st present placed very dose i to the sun. Jt will be in

b conjunction with tbe son In r three days’ time. Toward* . tbe end of the month Saturn b will emerge into tbe early t morning sky to join Venus ■ and Mercury. Although It : will be vary dose to tbe I horizon and difficult to aee t in the morning twilight glow, i Saturn will be occulted by b the moon on the morning' at I February 23. Saturn will rise r at 431 a Jn. and disappear • behind the moon nt 8.13 am. • It will reappear from behind i the moon at 530 am., lea I than a quarter of hour beb fore sunrise. i Venus, with its great brUt Hance, is providing another interesting sight for farmers, r milkmen and other early t risers who will again see it ! very dose to the moon at 1 3 am. on the morning of t February 21. t Mercury is also to be seen . in the early morning. Jt is I just beginning one of its I brief appearances and may b be found well below and to i the right of Venus.