Sky Chart For The Month of February, 2013 [INDIA SPECIFIC]

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2013

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 3rd at h. 19-26 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 10th at h. 12-50 I.S.T
First Quarter occurs on 18th at h. 02-01 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 25th at h. 01-56 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 11th.
The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 7th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 19th.

The Moon passes 3½º south of Saturn on 3^rd, 6º north of Venus on 9^th, about 6º north of Neptune on 11^th, about 6º north of Mars on 11^th, about 5º north of Mercury on 11^th, 4½º north of Uranus on 13^th and about 1º south of Jupiter on 18^th.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet becomes visible on 1^st of the month and sets after sunset. It sets about ½ hour to 1 hour after it upto first quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to ½ hour after it upto 25th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month. It is in Greatest Eastern Elongation of about 18º from the Sun and approaches Perihelion position or reaches nearest to the earth on 17^th. The motion of the planet becomesRetrograde with respect to the earth on 23^rd.

Venus: The planet is a brilliant object, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight upto middle of the month. It rises about 1 hour to ½ hour before it upto 18^th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month. It approaches Aphelion position or reaches farthest from the earth on 21^st.

Mars: The planet sets about 1 hour after sunset upto 13^th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month.

Jupiter: The planet sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to ½ hour after it upto third quarter of the month and about ½ hour after it to close to local midnight time for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 26^th.

Saturn: The planet rises before local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises around local midnight time to ½ hour before it upto first quarter of the month, about ½ hour to 1 hour before it 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. The motion of the planet becomes Retrograde with respect to the Earth on 18^th.

Uranus: The planet is seen in the evening sky and sets after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 4 hours to 3½ hours after sunset 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 upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet is visible in the evening sky and sets about 1½ hours to 1 hour after sunset upto first quarter of the month and about 1 hour to ½ hour after it upto second quarter of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 21^st.

Conjunction of Planet :

Mars passes about ½º south of Neptune on 4^th.

Mercury passes ½º south of Neptune on 7^th.

Mercury passes about ½º north of Mars on 9^th.

Mercury passes about 4º north of Mars on 25^th

Venus passes about 1º south of Neptune on 28^th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Capricorn’s (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 2nd	-1.2 to –0.6 -0.6 to +2.5
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Capricorn’s (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 21st	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha)	+1.2
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in. Taurus (Vrisha)	-2.5 to –2.3
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Libra (Tula )	+0.6 to +0.4
Uranus	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.