Sky Lights ~ Aquarius

Mercury at greatest elongation 1/20 sets in the southwest about 90 minutes after the Sun. The following nights it continues to sink back toward the horizon. By the beginning of February the elusive planet is lost in the glowing embrace of the Sun. It reaches inferior conjunction 2/6 and then switches horizons. Begin looking for a difficult to see dim Mercury, north of twilight Venus, on the southeastern horizon 2/25. Mercury is retrograde 1/28-2/17.

Mars remains big and beautiful through January. For those with telescopes early February offers the final opportunity to observe the planet’s surface details before the distance between Mars and Earth becomes to great. The planet is seen high overhead between 8:00pm-10:00pm. It sets in the beginning of Aquarius at 5:00am and by its end at 3:30am. Almost directly south of Mars lies red Betelgeuse. Look west of Betelgeuse to find red Aldebaran and you'll see all members of the shape shifting Red Triad. 1/17-21 Map Mars is retrograde through 1/30/08. Mars Path 10/1/07-4/23/08

Saturn rises in the beginning of Aquarius at 8:00pm and by its end at 6:15pm. It's retrograde motion (12/19/07-5/1/08) is moving it westward back toward Regulus the blue-white heart star of Leo the Lion. The eclipsed Moon occurs below Regulus near Saturn during the Feb. 20/21 total lunar eclipse. When the ringed planet lies low above the eastern horizon, Mars lies overhead. 2/10 7pm Map Saturn's orbit is bringing it closer to Earth. Watch it's golden orb grow brighter and bigger until it reaches opposition 2/24/08. Saturn's rings are closing toward their 2009 edge-on view.

Venus is dazzling in the southeastern morning sky, as it slowly descends toward the sunrise horizon. The planet is dimming as its orbit moves it further from Earth. Look for Jupiter low in the southeast below Venus. Watch this brilliant pair of predawn planets move closer to each other until they reach their conjunction 2/1. Afterwards Venus sinks below Jupiter. Venus rises in the beginning of Aquarius at 5:00am and by its end at 5:30am.

Jupiter is brilliant below blazing Venus in January. Look for the pair low in the southeast just before sunrise. The distance between these two dazzling planets decreases until they are at their closest 2/1. Afterwards Jupiter can be seen ascending above Venus, as their distance increases during February. Jupiter rises in the beginning of Aquarius at 5:45am and by its end at 4:30am.

The Pleiades star cluster lies above and to the left of the bright red star, Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull. Look for the reddish Aldebaran overhead in the early evening (west in the later evening) to find the mini dipper-shaped sparkling Pleiades, the Bull's shoulder. Star Map Note: In 2008 the brighter, redder Mars lies northeast of Aldebaran near Elnath the northern horn tip of Taurus the Bull. 2/10 7pm Map

Capella is the very bright star overhead and northeast of the Pleiades. It is the brightest star seen the most often. It lies in the constellation Auriga, our celestial Santa. Star Map Note: In 2008 it is the brightest object north of bright red Mars.

Orion The Hunter, the cosmic giant, lies overhead between 8pm – 9pm. Navigating with Orion introduces you to the winter stars. Use his belt stars to locate Sirius and Aldebaran, Betelgeuse and Rigel. Notice the colors of these 4 stars. The three belt stars of Orion represent the Three Wise Men. Orion helps one find the Winter Triangle, the Great Winter Hexagon and the Valentine's Star!

Sirius the brightest star in the heavens can be seen in the east as the Sun sets. Sirius sets in the beginning of Aquarius around 4:00am and by at its end about 2:00am.

Arcturus, a bright golden star, rises in the beginning of Aquarius around 11:00pm and by at its end around 9:30pm. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to blue-white Spica in the south!

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