Feburary Sky Notes
Written by John Stapleton
Image Credit: ESA
James Webb Space Telescope – Update
At the time of writing, NASA’s James Webb space Telescope (JWST) has successfully obtained dozens of images using the various cameras on board to view the Universe in a range of wavelengths from Near Infra-Red to ultra-violet. The JWST has imaged galaxies and nebulae in multiple wavelengths so that different details show up in the images than those revealed by the less-sensitive Hubble Space Telescope. NASA scientists have combined some of these “raw” images to create “final” beautiful images that contain information from each of the source wavelengths.
The JWST has discovered the existence of previously unexpectedly shaped galaxies. It seems that the familiar disc or globular galaxies were the minority in the early universe. Most of the galaxies found in JWST deep images are described as elongated and flattened in two dimensions, giving them a surfboard or pool-noodle shape. These galaxies are also less massive than more recent (nearby) galaxies so they are probably still undergoing the process of formation and are still gathering gaseous and dusty material from the intergalactic medium.
The JWST has also now studied the Beta Pictoris star system in far greater detail. This system has two identified exoplanets and is believed to possess orbiting exocomets. However the feature of greatest interest at Beta Pictoris is the disk of dusty material circling the bright central star. This is believed to be a protoplanetary disk, much as has been theorised surrounded the Sun when our own Solar System was formed. We may be seeing a solar system in the process of formation with its first large planets fully formed but more to come from the material surrounding the star. Further study has revealed that Beta Pictoris has a second disk of material slightly off-axis to the first, and the two may be in the process of merging. The latest images also reveal a “cat’s tail” structure of dust emerging from the disk and this is believed to be the source of the cometary and asteroidal material detected. This material in our own Solar System is especially interesting because it is Carbon-rich and may have been involved in the process of evolution of life in the Solar System.
Sky Notes
Please note all times given in this article are in GMT and as the clocks have changed that is the current time.
See February Sky Schedule
Sun: At the start of the month there are just 9 hours of daylight but as February progresses the length of day will increase to almost 11 hours.
Mercury: Mercury is not readily visible this month.
Venus: Venus is a morning object rising in the South-East before dawn but as the month moves on, even this bright planet is lost in the glare of the Sun. However, it is possible, if you know the co-ordinates for the position of Venus and can track it safely without getting the Sun in the view of the telescope, to see Venus in the daytime. This is something I have done, although not very often because of the potential danger. It is safest to try this when you are able to track the planet away from the Sun.
Mars: Mars is not visible this month.
Jupiter: Jupiter sets at about midnight so it is easily visible in evening skies throughout the month. The giant planet is seen against the background stars of Pisces and will be close to Venus on 28th which would make a good photo opportunity.
Saturn: Saturn starts the month low in the Western evening sky, and by mid-month is already lost in the twilight.
Uranus and Neptune: Uranus is seen against the background stars of Aries and close to the Pleiades star cluster. It is visible, although small and difficult to find, throughout most of the month. At magnitude 5.8 it is visible in binoculars. Look for a tiny greenish disc compared to the pinpoints which are the stars. Neptune is much lower in the sky, in the constellation of Pisces and is becoming increasingly difficult to spot. At magnitude 7.8 it will require large binoculars or a small telescope to find it. Neptune displays a smaller and truly blue disc compared to that of Uranus although it will appear only as a bluish star to most small instruments.
Meteor Shower: There are no regular meteor showers this month. However stray or sporadic meteors can still be seen at any time. Some of these can be very bright.
Comet: Comet C2021 S3 (PANSTARRS) will make its closest approach to the Earth on 14th February. The comet is estimated to rise to magnitude 9, making it a faint binocular object. The comet may be found between the constellations of Serpens and Ophiuchus. The comet’s closest approach to the Earth will be approximately 1.32 Astronomical Units (an Astronomical Unit is the distance between the Sun and the Earth – about 93 000 000 miles).
The Last Quarter Moon occurs on February 2nd with New Moon on 9th, First Quarter then follows on 16th February and Full Moon on 24th.