In the Sky this Week – February 6, 2018
Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, and the bright stars Antares and Spica all adorn the southern predawn sky. The Moon will be joining the party for the next several days – appearing near Jupiter on the 7th, between Jupiter and Mars on the 8th, and close to Mars on the 9th. This same region of the sky looks very different when viewed from the southern hemisphere; the image below is seen from the perspective of the Perth Observatory in Australia. The Moon The Moon put on a great show during the total lunar eclipse last week; Jason Major took this beautiful moonrise eclipse image: The Moon is a waning gibbous and will be at third quarter on the 7th. The Moon rises around midnight, and sets around noon. This weekend the Moon will be a waning crescent, rising a few hours before dawn, and setting in the afternoon. The Sun The Sun has a spot! A rather large and enthusiastic spot – … Continue reading →