|
February is a special month with the conspicuous constellation Orion
at its highest, above the southern horizon - and with the Milky Way
with its band of bright stars stretching high overhead. Orion is
easily recognised by its ‘Belt’ of three bright stars. Following the
line of the ‘Belt’ down and to the left, leads one to the
constellation of Taurus, with the Hyades (open cluster) behind the
bright star, Aldebaran and the Pleiades (very distinctive compact
cluster). High overhead is Sirius, the brightest star in the night
sky and Canopus, the second brightest. Following the line of the
Milky Way further South brings one to the Southern Cross, lying on
its side, and the bright ‘Pointers’. The lower ‘Pointer’ is Alpha
Centauri, our nearest stellar neighbour.
Planet Venus is the extremely bright object over the western horizon
in the early evening. Planet Saturn is close to the bright star
Regulus, in Leo, above the north-eastern horizon.
The Moon is in the evening sky until February 4 and again after
February 20.
|
