Date | Event | Time |
---|---|---|
1 | C/2022 E3 ZTF at Perigee (Distance = 48 million km) | --- |
4 | Moon at Apogee (Distance = 406,438.393) | 04:55 PM |
8 | α -Centaurids (ZHR = 6) | 04:00 AM |
19 | Moon at Perigee (Distance = 358,371.702) | 05:06 PM |
19-25 | NATIONAL ASTRONOMY WEEK | --- |
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Full Moon | |
Feb 06 | 02:29 AM | |
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Last Quarter | |
Feb 14 | 12:01 AM | |
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New Moon | |
Feb 20 | 03:06 PM | |
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First Quarter | |
Feb 27 | 04:06 PM |
Date | Mercury | Venus | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rise | Set | Rise | Set | Rise | Set | Rise | Set | Rise | Set | |
Feb 01 | 04:47 AM | 04:05 PM | 07:55 AM | 07:38 PM | 01:15 PM | *02:16 AM | 09:33 AM | 09:38 PM | 07:19 AM | 06:52 PM |
Feb 11 | 05:00 AM | 04:20 PM | 07:56 AM | 07:50 PM | 12:46 PM | *01:48 AM | 08:59 AM | 09:07 PM | 06:44 AM | 06:18 PM |
Feb 21 | 05:18 AM | 04:45 PM | 07:56 AM | 08:00 PM | 12:21 PM | *01:23 AM | 08:27 AM | 08:36 PM | 06:09 AM | 05:44 PM |
Feb 28 | 05:32 AM | 05:06 PM | 07:56 AM | 08:08 PM | 12:05PM | *01:08 AM | 08:04 AM | 08:15 PM | 05:44 AM | 05:20 PM |
* = following day
![]() Figure 1. The view of the night sky featuring the prominent February constellations showing the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere on 14 February at 09:00 PM using the Stellarium software |
Capella, the brightest star in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer, can be observed in the northern night sky. This star is one of the vertices of the asterism of the Winter Hexagon, together with the stars Rigel in the constellation Orion, Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini, Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor, and Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. Also, three Messier clusters can be found in the constellation Auriga; these are Messier 36, Messier 37, and Messier 38 [2,3].
![]() Figure 2a. The Rosette Nebula. Credit: NASA |
![]() Figure 2b. The Eskimo Nebula. Credit: NASA |
In the constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn, a deep sky object known as the Rosette Nebula can be seen. Believed to have formed about four million years ago, the Rosette Nebula has an open cluster of bright young stars called NGC 2244. Its red-like glow, as shown in Figure 2a, is due to the ultraviolet light emitted by the hot cluster of stars surrounding it. This nebula is located 5000 light-years away and has a span of 100 light-years; it can be observed using a small telescope [2,4]. Meanwhile, in the constellation Gemini, the planetary nebula NGC 2392, commonly called the Eskimo Nebula or sometimes referred to as the Clown Nebula, can be found (Figure 2b) [2,5].
Venus will remain a bright planet in the night sky. On 22 February, the Moon will pass at 2°05' South of Venus (Figure 3); both can be observed in the constellation Pisces [7]. There will also be a conjunction between Venus and Neptune on 15 February; however, it will not be visible without the use of a telescope or a binocular [8].
![]() Figure 3. The view of the western sky on 22 February at 07:00 P.M. showing the close approach of the Moon and Venus together with Jupiter, 1 hour after sunset using the Stellarium software |
Mars will be visible in the night sky during the whole month. On 28 February at 12:11 PM, the waxing gibbous Moon and Mars will approach closely, passing within 1°03" of each other (Figure 4). However, because the events occurred during the day, they will not be visible [9].
![]() Figure 4. The view of the western sky on 28 February at 09:00 P.M. showing the position of the Moon and Mars during their close approach, using the Stellarium software |
On 23 February, the waxing crescent Moon will pass over Jupiter, creating a lunar occultation (Figure 5); however, it will not be observable in the Philippines, unlike their conjunction, which will also happen on the same day [10]. The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, located among the background stars of the constellation Pisces [11].
![]() Figure 5. The view of the western sky on 23 February at 07:00 P.M. showing the position of the Moon, Jupiter, and Venus, 1 hour after sunset, using the Stellarium software |
Meanwhile, Saturn will not be observable during this month due to its proximity to the Sun.
Figure 6. The view of the southern sky during the peak of α-Centaurids on 08 February 2023 at 4:30 AM when the shower's radiant is represented by the green solid circle. |
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is mandated to spearhead the annual celebration of the National Astronomy Week (NAW), observed every 3rd week of February under the Presidential Proclamation No. 130, s. 1993. This year's celebration will be on 19-25 February 2023, with the theme "Breaking Barriers in Philippine Astronomy: Overcoming Adversity for a Better and Sustainable Development".
The theme for the 30th National Astronomy Week (NAW) celebration is in line with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It focuses on the 4th SDG which is Education. The celebration of NAW will focus on educating the youth of this generation through a series of lectures and activities with the following objectives:
- Promote Philippine Astronomy among youths;
- Conduct free Planetarium shows and telescoping and stargazing sessions;
- Conduct a free seminar and workshop for selected Public School Teachers of a selected province and;
- Conduct an Astro-Camp for selected Junior High School Students
Read NAW 2023 Press Release here |
Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)
References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840: The Philippine Star Atlas, 2019
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky, February Constellation” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/february-constellations/, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[3] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky, Auriga Constellation” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/auriga-constellation/, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[4] NASA Share the Science, “The Rosette Nebula” https://science.nasa.gov/rosette-nebula, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[5] NASA, “Eskimo Nebula” https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/hubble_anniversary/eskimo_nebula.html/, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[6] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Conjunction of Moon and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230218_20_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[7] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Conjunction of Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230222_20_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[8] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Conjunction of Venus and Neptune” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230215_20_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[9] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Lunar Occultation of Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230228_16_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[10] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Lunar Occultation of Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230222_16_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[11] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230222_20_101, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[12] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: α-Centaurid meteor shower” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230208_10_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[13] JPL, Archive.Today “Smal-Body Database Lookup: C/2022 E3 (ZTF)” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230104_10_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[14] D. Ford, “In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: C/2022 E3 (ZTF) at perigee” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20230201_19_100, Last accessed 2023-01-25, 2023
[15] APOD NASA, “Astronomy Picture of the Day: 2022 December 24” https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221224.html, Last accessed2023-01-25, 2023
For more information, call or email:
Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos, RCE
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 106, 107, 116
Email add: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph