Sky Chart For The Month of February, 2024

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2024

The Moon

Full Moon occurs on 24^that h.18-00 I.S.T.	Last Quarter occurs on 3^rdat h. 04-48 I.S.T.
New Moon occurs on 10^that h. 04-29 I.S.T.	First Quarter occurs on 16^that h. 20-31 I.S.T.

The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 11^st.
The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 11^th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 25^th. .

The Moon passes about 5½º south of Venus on 8^th, about 4½º south of Mars on 8^th, about 3½º south of Mercury on 9^th, about 2º south of Saturn on 11^th, about ½º south of Neptune on 12^th, about 3½º north of Jupiter on 15^th, about 3½º north of Uranus on 16^th.

The Planets

Visibility of Planets:

Mercury: The planet rises about 1 hour to ½ hour before sun rise upto 7^th of the month. From 8^th planet is too close to the Sun to be visible. It is at Aphelion or farthest from the Sun in its orbit on 2^nd. The planet is in Superior Conjunction with Sun on 28^th .

Venus: The planet rises about 2 hours to 1½ hours before sun rise upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour before it for the remaining days of the month.

Mars: The planet rises about 1 hour to 1½ hours before sun rise throughout the month.

Jupiter: The planet sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before local midnight upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet sets about 2 hours to 1½ hours after sun set upto first quarter of the month and 1½ hours to 1 hour after it upto 14^th of the month. From 15^th planet is too close to the Sun to be visible. The planet is in Conjunction with Sun on 29^th.

Uranus: The planet sets about ½ hour after local midnight to close to local midnight time upto first quarter of the month, close to local midnight time to about ½ hour before it upto second quarter of the month, about ½ hour to 1 hour before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 8^th.

Neptune: The planet sets about 3 hours to 2½ hours after sun set upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month, 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planet:

Venus passes about ½º north of Mars on 22^nd.

Mercury passes about ½º south of Saturn on 28^th

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 1^st. Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 19^th.	-0.3 to -1.8
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 11^th.	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 5^th.	+1.3
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Aries (Mesha).	-2.4 to -2.2
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+1.0
Uranus	Remains in Aries (Mesha).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.