{"id":28780,"date":"2022-01-27T11:09:23","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T11:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=44191"},"modified":"2022-01-27T11:17:12","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T11:17:12","slug":"how-to-see-the-planets-in-the-night-sky-february-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/how-to-see-the-planets-in-the-night-sky-february-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"How to see the planets in the night sky, February 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 27 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The observational window for Uranus worsens this month, so you might be forgiven for questioning why we\u2019ve chosen it as the planet to lead our February 2022 guide with.<\/p>\n

Despite its slowly deteriorating position, it currently has the highest declination of all the main planets, and this means it still maintains a decent altitude after the evening sky darkens.<\/p>\n

Read our month-by-month guide to observing the planets in 2022<\/a> or find out how to find the planets in the night sky<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\""A\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A chart showing the path of Uranus in the night sky, February 2022. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

On 1 February<\/strong> the mag. +5.8 planet appears just west of south as true darkness falls.<\/p>\n

At this time its altitude is around 50\u02da, way better than any other planet on view from the UK.<\/p>\n

Things do progressively get worse through the month. By the middle of February<\/strong>, Uranus has an altitude of 44\u02da as darkness falls, a figure which drops to 34\u02da by the month\u2019s close<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Despite the decline, Uranus remains a viable target all month.<\/p>\n

A telescope is required to show Uranus as anything more than a star-like dot, and to <\/span>reveal its green hue.<\/p>\n

\""View\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
View Uranus througha small telescope to catch its green hue. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A magnification of 200x or greater will reveal the ice giant\u2019s small, but unmistakable disc.<\/p>\n

Currently, Uranus appears 3.5 arcseconds <\/span>across.<\/p>\n

For comparison, Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter\u2019s Galilean moons<\/a> and the largest moon in the Solar System, has an apparent diameter of 1.8 arcseconds when Jupiter is near opposition<\/a>, about half the apparent size of Uranus.<\/p>\n

\""Planet\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Planet Uranus by Avani Soares, Parsec Observatory, Canoas, Brazil. Equipment: C14 Edge, ASI 224, PM 2X, Red filter 610 nm<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Neptune, the Solar System\u2019s outer planet, presents a disc 2.2 arcseconds in diameter.<\/p>\n

Uranus sits 24 arcminutes south-southeast of 29 Arietis at February\u2019s start<\/strong>, the star and planet forming a well-matched visual pair.<\/p>\n

On 7 February<\/strong>, a 43%-lit waxing crescent Moon<\/a> sits 1.5\u02da to the south of Uranus (centre-to-centre).<\/p>\n

Mars and Venus<\/h2>\n
\""Moon,\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mars Conjunction 8 Oct 2015 by Peter Louer, Tenerife. Equipment: Canon 700D 18-55mm Lens<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Venus and Mars are visible in the morning sky in February 2022.<\/p>\n

The two planets are not that well placed as seen from the UK as they are in the southern constellation of Sagittarius<\/a>, the Archer.<\/p>\n

They form a mismatched couple during the month, Venus shining brightly at mag. \u20134.5, Mars much dimmer at mag. +1.4.<\/p>\n

However, they are interesting to watch if you have a flat southeast horizon as they appear to approach one another during the month.<\/p>\n

\""On\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
On 14 February 2022, look for a grouping of Venus, Mars and Mercury at 06:50 UT (as viewed from the central UK). Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

On 14 February<\/strong>\u00a0Venus sits 6.5\u02da to the north of Mars, the pair both above the horizon, 90 minutes prior to sunrise.<\/p>\n

Venus should be obvious, but you\u2019ll probably have to wait a little longer for Mars to rise sufficiently to be visible through the low horizon murk.<\/p>\n

On 14 February<\/strong>\u00a0mag. +0.1 Mercury will also be there, forming the sharp point of a sunward-pointing isosceles triangle with Mars and Venus as the base.<\/p>\n

A 15%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 4.7\u02da south of Mars on 27 February<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On this date, Mars and Venus will appear separated by 5.3\u02da, the Red Planet having brightened to mag. +1.3.<\/p>\n

By the month\u2019s end<\/strong>, both planets appear 5.1\u02da apart, with the separation dropping to just below 4\u02da in the first half of March.<\/p>\n

How to see the planets in February 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The phase and relative sizes of the planets in February 2022. Each planet is shown with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Uranus<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n