look up.
February 2023 is a great time to easily observe two unique planets in our solar system. Both the gas giant Jupiter and its fiery sister planet Venus shine in the night sky this month. Even in light-polluted areas like New York City, these planetary diamonds shine brightly.
“Throughout the month, you’ll notice the two brightest planets in the sky, Jupiter and Venus, appear closer each night,” writes NASA.(opens in new tab).
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A cool space movie show where a speeding object crashes into Jupiter and explodes
View of Jupiter and Venus
It’s very easy. And you don’t need any equipment.
NASA explains, “Find them in the west an hour or so after sunset.”
Above you can see Jupiter and below you can see Venus, the third brightest object in the night sky (after the Sun and the Moon). As February progresses, the planets are moving closer together in the sky.
A NASA graphic showing the positions of Venus and Jupiter in the night sky on February 22nd.
Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech
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Of course, these bright planets aren’t the only interesting objects to see in February. For example, with binoculars you can spot two star clusters.
“Observers with access to good binoculars or a small telescope can use the brightest stars in the sky as guideposts throughout the month to locate two simple star clusters,” explains NASA. . “They are two open star clusters, M41 and M47. These stars are called ‘open’ because they are close to each other in space, but they are a kind of diffuse structure.” is Sirius, which is easy to find in the southern sky in winter. M41 is just south of Sirius.If you’re looking for star clusters, the space agency’s skygazing web page has more info(opens in new tab).
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And let’s not forget the Moon, a deeply cratered natural satellite. By February 27th, we’ll reach the first quarter. But be on the lookout for sightings this month. Also on February 27, in the southwest after sunset, Mars will appear close to the Moon. According to NASA, they are less than 1 degree apart from her.
A wild planet in our cosmic backyard
It is wonderful to be able to see nearby celestial objects with the naked eye through the reflection of sunlight. Her two planets currently shown, Venus and Jupiter, are vastly different worlds.
Venus: Venus is a rocky planet about the size of Earth. It is also the closest planet to us. But on the ground, its surroundings are about 900 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than a pizza oven.(opens in new tab)A thick layer of greenhouse gases like the powerful carbon dioxide traps a lot of heat. However, its upper atmosphere hosts a milder and more rational climate.
Jupiter: Jupiter is a gas giant, containing more than twice the mass of all other planets in the solar system combined. Thick clouds and storms (mostly hydrogen and helium) swirl around the surface, including the Great Red Spot, which NASA has “tormented for more than a century.”(opens in new tab) Jupiter contains a whopping 92 known moons(opens in new tab)including the fascinating world Europa, which harbors an icy ocean beneath its cracked shell.
