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Celestial
Events Calendar
Tuesday, February 1, 2005:
Capricornid and Sagittarid radio meteor
shower
Space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas on this date
in 2003.
Wednesday, February 2, 2005:
Cross-quarter day, half way between the winter solstice and
the spring equinox
1:27 AM CST Last Quarter Moon
9 AM CST Jupiter appears stationary relative to the stars;
it ceases its normal eastward drift and begins a western drift (retrograde)
relative to the stars.
Thursday, February 3, 2005:
2 PM CST The planet Neptune is at conjunction with the
Sun, that is, the Sun is between the Earth and Neptune. Neptune moves from the
evening to the morning sky.
On this date in 1966 Luna 9 performed the first soft landing
on the Moon.
11 PM CST The Moon is about a degree north of the star
Antares in the constellation Scorpio.
Friday, February 4, 2005:
8 PM CST Houston Astronomical Society Meeting
The Neal Site is open tonight
Saturday, February 5, 2005:
The Neal Site is open tonight
7 AM CST Mars is 4 degrees north of the Moon.
Monday, February 7, 2005:
Alpha Centaurid meteor shower active Jan 28
Feb 21
ZHR is 25+ meteors/hour
4 PM CST The Moon is at perigee, its closest approach to
Earth
~ 225,000 miles
Tuesday, February 8, 2005:
9 AM CST The Moon, Mercury and Neptune are all inside a
5-degree circle in the morning sky.
4:29 PM CST New Moon
Friday, February 11, 2005:
The Sun reaches its highest point in the sky at 12:14 PM CST
The Neal Site is open tonight
Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society meeting
Saturday, February 12, 2005:
The Neal Site is open tonight
Sunday, February 13, 2005:
Chi Capricornid radio meteor shower
4 AM CST The Moon is at its ascending node, its is
crossing the plane of the Earths orbit and heading northeast
Monday, February 14, 2005:
5 AM CST Mercury is at superior conjunction, that is, the
Sun is between the Earth and Mercury. Mercury moves from the morning into the
evening sky.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005:
6 PM CST Venus is less that a degree SSE of Neptune in the
morning sky.
6:15 PM CST First Quarter Moon
Galileo was born on this date in 1564.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005:
1 AM CST The Sun leaves the astronomical constellation of
Capricorn, the Goat and enters the astronomical constellation of Aquarius, the
Water Carrier.
Friday, February 18, 2005:
The Sun leaves the astrological sign of Aquarius and enters
the astrological sign Pisces, the northern fish.
Fort Bend Astronomy Club meeting
On this date in 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovers the planet
Pluto.
The Neal Site is open tonight.
Saturday, February 19, 2005:
The Neal Site is open tonight.
Monday, February 21, 2005:
North Houston Astronomy Club Observation Committee
Meeting, 7:00 PM at Kingwood College
Tuesday, February 22, 2005:
9 PM CST Venus is at its furthest point from the Sun, aphelion
~ 68
million miles
Wednesday, February 23, 2005:
Supernova 1987A exploded on this date in 1987.
Thursday, February 24, 2005:
Delta Leonid meteor shower active Feb 15
Mar 10, ZHR ~ 2 meteors/hour.
The discovery of the first pulsar was announced on this date
in 1968.
10:54 PM CST Full Moon, snow, hunger or wolf
moon.
Friday, February 25, 2005:
1 AM CST Uranus is in conjunction with the Sun, that is,
the Sun is between the Earth and Uranus. Uranus moves from the evening sky into
the morning sky
70th Meeting of the North Houston Astronomy Club
Saturday, February 26, 2005:
Houston Astronomical Society annual banquet
Monday, February 28, 2005:
6 PM CST The Moon is at its descending node, it is
crossing the plane of the Earths orbit sand heading southeast.