Fri., Feb. 1, 9 p.m. EST. he moon will be close to the bright star Spica. Observers in southern Africa and eastern Australia will see the moon occult Spica.
On Sun., Feb. 3, 10:56 a.m. EST, The last or third quarter moon rises around 1 a.m. and sets around 11 a.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.
This NASA graphic shows the position of the moon and planet Saturn on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, during a dawn celestial meetup in the southern sky.
Fri., Feb. 8, 4 p.m. EST. The two planets Mercury and Mars will be in a close conjunction. Since both are close to the sun, this will be difficult to observe, as there is only a narrow window between when the sky gets dark enough after sunset and when the two planets are high enough above the horizon to still be visible. Binoculars or a telescope recommended.
The location of planets Mars and Mercury in the western sky just after sunset on Feb. 10, 2013, are shown in this NASA graphic.
This NASA graphic shows the location of the crescent moon, Mars and the planet Mercury in the western sky just after sunset on Feb. 11, 2013.
Sun., Feb. 10, 2:20 a.m. EST. The moon is not visible on the date of new moon because it is too close to the sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after new moon.
Diagram depicting the passage of asteroid 2012 DA14 through the Earth-moon system on Feb. 15, 2013.
This graphic is an illustration of how the asteroid 2012 DA14 will fly between Earth and the constellation of geosynchronous satellites on Feb. 15, 2013, when the asteroid flies within 17,200 miles of the planet.
This NASA map shows the locations in Eastern Europe, Asia and Australia, where the asteroid 2012 DA14 may be visible in telescopes during its close Earth flyby on Feb. 15, 2013.
This still from a NASA video depicts the area of North America where asteroid 2012 DA14 may be visible in amateur astronomers' telescopes at 7 p.m. EST and 10 p.m. EST on Feb. 15, 2013. The asteroid will be faint and fast, making it hard to spot for even veteran stargazers.
The locations of planets Mercury and. Mars at sunset on Feb. 16, 2013, are shown in this NASA sky map.
Sat., Feb. 16, evening twilight. This is the best opportunity this year for observers in the Northern Hemisphere to observe Mercury in the evening sky. Sweep the western horizon with binoculars to pick up Mercury’s tiny speck of light.
On Sun., Feb. 17, 3:31 p.m. EST, the first quarter moon rises around 11 a.m. and sets around 2 a.m. It dominates the evening sky
This NASA graphic depicts the location of the planet Jupiter and the moon as they will appear close together in the eastern night sky at 11 p.m. (your local time) on Feb. 18, 2013.
Mon., Feb. 18, early evening. Another close conjunction between Jupiter and the Moon, flanked by Aldebaran and the Hyades to the left and the Pleiades to the right. The Moon will actually pass in front of Jupiter for viewers in the southern Indian Ocean. Southern Australia and Tasmania. Shown here is the view from Melbourne, Australia.
Mon., Feb. 18, early evening. The moon will pass just south of the bright asteroid Vesta, making it easier to locate than usual. The moon will occult Vesta as seen from central South America and much of western and southern Africa.
This NASA graphic depicts the location of the planet Jupiter and the moon as they will appear close together in the eastern night sky just after midnight on Feb. 19, 2013.
Mon., Feb. 25, 3:26 p.m. EST. The full moon of February is called the Snow Moon. Its Cree name is Cepizun, meaning “old moon.” Other names are Hunger Moon, Storm Moon and Candles Moon. In Hindi it is known as Magh Poornima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Navam. The full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.
