ORION’S NEIGHBORHOOD: Our monthly Sky Tour astronomy podcast offers a 12-minute guided tour of the night sky that is both instructive and fun. Download the February episode to learn about the vibrant constellations that encircle Orion, the Hunter.
For northerners, February is traditionally the coldest month of the year, but the Sun is telling a different tale. Already, the days are becoming longer, with earlier sunrises and later sunsets. The celestial geometry is altering as well, as the Sun begins to move northward in the sky. We’ll be on the verge of northern spring in a few of weeks.
Winter’s stars, though, remain firmly in command of the evening firmament. Our weekly Sky Tour astronomy podcast will help you find some of them.
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, may be found near the southeastern horizon as darkness sets. The characteristic pattern of Orion, the Hunter, the archetypal northern winter — or summer if you live in Australia — is seen above Sirius. His belt is marked by three stars in a close diagonal row, flanked by a tall boxy quartet of brilliant stars to frame his body. The red supergiant star Betelgeuse, which marks Orion’s left shoulder, is located in the belt’s top left corner. Also How to setup a Nintendo Switch Pro controller on your PC
Many dazzling stars may be seen when you glance about this area of the sky. Skywatchers frequently draw a huge six-sided pattern known as the Winter Hexagon that links them. To discover it, picture Betelgeuse in the centre of the hexagon.
You’ll be able to draw out a large polygon made by a few dozen brilliant stars arrayed around Betelgeuse. Which stars, you may wonder? Find out by listening to this month’s Sky Tour!
Orion also rules over a region of the sky populated by numerous lesser-known constellations, some of which may serve as the mythological Hunter’s prey. A long, meandering river lies to his west, while a unicorn lies to his east. Under his legs is a heavenly hare, and beneath that is a dove with Bible connections. Sky Tour makes it simple to locate these constellations.
The nights in February may be cold (even freezing), but the sky is alive with dazzling stars and spectacular constellations at this time of year. In mid-February, three inner planets can be seen huddled together low in the southeast before morning.
So, download or listen to this month’s Sky Tour audio – a fun and instructive way to learn about the stars and planets that will be visible during the month of February.