Sky Chart For The Month of February, 2023

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2023

The Moon

Full Moon occurs on 5^that h.23-58 I.S.T.	Last Quarter occurs on 13^that h. 21-31 I.S.T.
New Moon occurs on 20^that h. 12-36 I.S.T.	First Quarter occurs on 27^that h. 13-36 I.S.T.

The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 21^st.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth 4^th of this month and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 19^th.

The Moon passes about 3½º south of Mercury on 19^th, about 3½º south of Saturn on 20^th, about 2½º south of Neptune on 21^st, about 2° south of Venus on 22^nd, about 1º south of Jupiter on 23^rd, about 1½° north of Uranus on 25^th and about 1º north of Mars on 28^th.

The Planets

Visibility of Planets:

Mercury: The planet rises about 1½ hour before sun rise upto the first quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 1 hour before it upto 24^th of the month. Thereafter from 25^th the planet is too close to the Sun to be visible. The planet is at aphelion or farthest from the Sun in its orbit on 16^th.

Venus: The planet sets about 2 hours after sun set throughout the month.

Mars: The planet sets about 2 hours after local midnight upto the first quarter of month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto the third quarter of month, about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Jupiter: The planet sets about 4 hours to 3½ hours after sun set upto first quarter of the month, about 3½ hours to 3 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet sets about 1 hour after sun set upto 2^nd of the month. Thereafter from 3^rd the planet is too close to the Sun to be visible. The planet is in conjunction with Sun on 16^th of the month.

Uranus:The planet sets ½ hour after to close to local midnight upto first quarter of the month, from close to local midnight 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 4^th.

Neptune:The planet sets about 3 hours to 2½ hours after sunset 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 and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planets

Mars passes about 8° north of Aldebaran (Rohini) on 5^th.

Venus passes just south of Neptune on 15^th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 7^th. Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 27^th.	-0.1 to -0.6
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 15^th	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Remains in Taurus (Vrisha).	-0.3 to 0.0 0.0 to +0.4
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	-2.2 to -2.1
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+0.8 to +0.7 +0.7 to +0.8
Uranus	Remains in Aries (Mesha).	+6.0
Neptune	Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 18^th.	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.