Abstract
FULL moon occurs on February 14 at 17·2h. and new moon on March 2 at 5·7h U.T. No occultation of stars brighter than magnitude 5½ occurs this month. The moon is in conjunction with Saturn on February 4 at 18h and three hours later with Mars, the two conjunctions illustrating very well the moon‘s movement in its orbit around the earth. Mars was in conjunction with Saturn on February 2 at 20h, and the former continues to move eastwards relative to the latter. Those observers interested in the phenomena of Saturn‘s satellites should consult p. 30 of the B.A.A. Handbook for the times of eclipses, occultations and transits. The apparent diameter of the minor axis of the ring system is slowly increasing up to a maximum of 8" in August next. Uranus (6th magnitude) is not far from 29 Arietis, a star of similar magnitude. Neptune is in Leo, and at the end of February is about half-way between 89 Leonis and o Leonis ; the disk presented by the planet is 2½" in diameter. The well-known eclipsing binary, Algol (β Persei), is becoming less favourably placed for observation. The change in brightness (in 5 hours the star loses two-thirds of its light and then returns to its original brightness in the following 5 hours) can be seen best about 1½ hours before and after the following epochs: February 6d 23·8h; 9d 20·6h; 12d 17·4h; 24d 4·7h, 27d l·6h and March ld 22·4h.. In view of the occurrence of magnetic storms commencing on January 16, 22 and 25 (the latter being associated with the great auroral display), it may be worth while watching the northern skies 27 days after each of these dates, especially on or about February 21, when the moon will be absent until after midnight. Analysis of data shows, however, that great magnetic disturbances recorded in this country are much less likely to recur after one synodic solar rotation than those of lesser intensity.
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The Night Sky in February. Nature 141, 240–241 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141240f0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141240f0