groundhog day 2009

February is not only the month of variable length during leap years but the month containing the midpoint of the winter season, which falls near February 2nd.
February 2nd is variously celebrated as Candlemas Day or, in popular culture since at least the mid-nineteenth century, as Groundhog Day.

Supposedly, if the groundhog comes out of his winter retreat and sees his shadow, the six-week balance of the winter season will be wintry, and he continues his winter's sleep, but if the day is cloudy, it foretells more moderate spring-like weather to come, so he can stay up and be active.

We will hope for a cloudy Groundhog Day followed by many clear nights during the month, as there will be a beautiful sky with several special features for the groundhog, you and I to see and ponder.

Indeed, some objects come into the solar system and pass relatively near the earth without you and I ever seeing them. Such was the case on January 25 when newly discovered asteroid 2009 BD passed within about 400,000 miles of earth (our moon is about 240,000 miles away).

Curiously this space rock, which is only about thirty feet in diameter, appears to be traveling in nearly the same orbit as Earth, so it may continue to be our traveling companion for many months or even longer.

Another visitor to the inner regions of our solar system this month is Comet Lulin, which probably started from the far outer regions of our planetary system long, long ago.

Comet Lulin is moving farther away from the sun but closer to Earth and is expected to reach its maximum brightness on February 23 when it will appear near and just south-southwest of the planet Saturn.

During this month, Saturn is the brightest object in the constellation Leo and it shines with a steadier light than the stars. Binoculars will likely be needed at this time to see the comet and it may look more like a fuzzy star than a comet with a long tail.

Helpful star maps showing the nightly position of the comet in reference to the stars and constellations can be viewed at the following website.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html

The stars and constellations of February will occupy the same places in your evening sky at 9 p.m. on February 1 as at 8 p.m. on February 15 and at nearly 7 p.m. on February 28. Every 15 nights, the stars and constellations return to the same places about one hour earlier, ignoring the complications of Daylight Saving Time.

The moon, sun and planets move to their individual rhythms. For the hours mentioned above go outside and face a little west of south where you will see Orion; follow the line of his belt down to bright Sirius.

In the northeast, the Big Dipper stands on the end of its handle with the pointer stars of the cup guiding one to Polaris, the North Star.

DON TREWORGY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANETARIUM AT MYSTIC SEAPORT. HIS EMAIL IS DON.TREWORGY@MYSTICSEAPORT.ORG. FEBRUARY 2009

2 First Quarter Moon; Groundhog Day

9 Full Moon

11 Waning gibbous Moon near Saturn low in the east southeastern sky after 8:30 p.m.

13 Look for Mercury low in the south southeast about 5:45 a.m.; binoculars will help

16 Last quarter Moon

17 Waning crescent Moon near red Antares, southeastern sky after 3:30 a.m.

19 Venus brightest, southwestern evening sky, through telescope a crescent shape

22 Slender waning crescent Moon near Mercury low in the east southeastern dawn sky

23 Comet Lulin near & south southwest of Saturn, both are in Leo & east of the sickle shape & Regulus, low in the east after 8 p.m., binoculars will help you see comet

24 New Moon; bright Jupiter near Mercury low in the east southeastern dawn sky

27 Crescent Moon near brilliant Venus low in the western evening sky


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