Centre of the Universe newsletter – February 2013

School Programs at the Centre of the Universe

We are taking reservations for this year’s school programs. Bring your class to the observatory and planetarium and experience our curriculum-linked activities! To see a list of school programs we offer, visit our website. For additional information, please contact us at 250-363-8262 or e-mail at cu@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

The Sky this Month

• February 3 - Last Quarter Moon at 5:57 am
• February 9 - New Moon at 11:21 pm
• February 17 - First Quarter Moon 12:31 pm
• February 25 - Full Moon 12:27 pm

February Constellations

Just below and to the left of Orion, you will find a very bright, yellow star. This is Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky. Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, sits in the constellation Canis Major, or “Big Dog”. Another bright star that might catch your attention is just above and to the left of Sirius. This bright star is Procyon, part of “Little Dog” or Canis Minor.

To the East this month you will see a sign that suggests spring is on its way. If you look slightly above the eastern horizon you will find a giant backwards question mark. This is the head of Leo, the lion, the first showing of the spring constellations.

In the northeast, the Big Dipper, part of the Big Bear (Ursa Major), is still standing on its handle. If you use the two upper stars in the bucket of the dipper to draw a line to the west you will find Polaris, our North Star. As you watch the sky over an evening, you will see this star appears to stand still while all the other stars rotate around it.

The Planets

Jupiter is still visible throughout the night as it hovers in the southern sky to the right of Orion in Taurus.

Saturn becomes visible in the east after 1 am during the early days of February. By month’s end, see it rising in the east before midnight.

The Moon

The February full moon is called the “Full Snow Moon” by the Algonquin people since this is the month with the most snowfall. Some tribes also referred to the February moon as the “Full Hunger Moon” as it is the time when hunting is most difficult.