February 2024 MAC Newsletter

February Sky Happenings
Last Quarter:February 2nd
New Moon:February 9th
First Quarter:February 16th
Full Moon:February 24th, the Snow Moon

Mercury - Visible in the morning sky in Sagittarius until the 5th, then not visible.
Venus - Visible in the morning sky in Sagittarius, then in Capricorn after mid-month.
Mars - Visible in the morning sky in Sagittarius then in Capricorn after mid-month.
Jupiter - Visible in the evening sky in Aries.
Saturn - Visible in the evening sky in Aquarius until mid-month, then not visible.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks at magnitude 8.5 in Cygnus. Comes closet to Earth in early April
Comet 16P/Tsuchinshan at magnitude 9.2 in Virgo. Moving away from the inner solar system
February Sky Charts:
Mid February looking South at 8pm EST. Image created with SkySafari 6 for Mac OS X, �2010-2018 Simulation Curriculum Corp., skysafariastronomy.com.
Mid February looking North at 8pm EST. Image created with SkySafari 6 for Mac OS X, �2010-2018 Simulation Curriculum Corp., skysafariastronomy.com.

Glen Sharp recently captured this image of M42, the Orion Nebula:

Orion Nebula

Announcements:

Here's the Zoom info for the February meeting:

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83900597261?pwd=VUdJczVnRDc5cC9TQWwxL3Ftc1J2dz09
Meeting ID: 839 0059 7261
Passcode: 114524

Club dues ($20 per family for the year) are due.

On February 21st, Minnetrista's Tapas and Talk will feature NASA Solar System Ambassador Sarah Vise discussing what is needed to equip yourself to be a scientist every day. More info is available on the Minnetrista website.

The club is selling solar eclipse glasses for $2 ea. or 3 for $5. Starting March first the price increases to $3 ea. or 2 for $5.

The club has a few used Televue eyepieces for sale. Contact Fred Hicks, Dan Malone or Chris O'Brien if you're interested in purchasing.

Have you watched an interesting astronomy related YouTube video, listened to a podcast, or read an online article? Send me the link, and I'll share it with the rest of the club.

Are you doing astrophotography? Send me your latest images, and I'll publish them for the club to see.

Do you have equipment to sale, or are looking for a specific item to buy? Let me know and I'll get the word out to the rest of the club.



Return