Leap into February's must-see astronomy events
The three biggest astronomy events in February will all be centered around the moon, including one of the smallest full moons of 2024.
This month of February features astronomy events that involve the moon. Here are the most noteworthy astronomy events to mark down on your calendar.
Weekend stargazers will get their fill in February as three of the four weekends throughout the month will feature an astronomical event, all of which revolve around the moon. There will also be an additional night for enjoying the night sky this February since it is a leap year, meaning there will be 29 days and nights rather than the typical 28 during the second month of the year.
No events in February require a telescope, but there will be good opportunities for folks to get a closer look with the help of a telescope. This includes people who may have received a new telescope during the holiday season but have yet to point it to the heavens.
From the antithesis of a supermoon to a tight-knit bunch of objects around a famous constellation, here are the three events you will not want to miss in February's night sky:
Feb. 9: New Moon
The second weekend of February will be the best time of the month for stargazing, not because of a meteor shower or a planetary alignment, but due to the absence of the moon.
On Friday, Feb. 9, the moon will reach its new phase, a time when it is not visible at night, making the night sky appear darker than other times of the month. While the new moon is a monthly occurrence, February's wintry weather will help to give the stars an extra sparkle.
A trail of light weaves past a wintry cabin under a starlit sky. (Photo by: Tyson Paul/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The amount of moisture in the atmosphere during the winter is lower compared to muggy summer nights. As a result, the stars during the winter months appear to twinkle more than they do any other time of the year.
However, the drawback is that a teeth-chattering chill often accompanies cloud-free nights during the winter, so skywatchers will need to bundle up before heading outside to soak in the sights of the cosmos.
Feb. 17: Moon, Jupiter and Orion
A trio of celestial sights will gather in the sky during the third weekend of February, an event that will be easy for people of all ages to see -- as long as clouds do not spoil the show.
After sunset on Saturday, Feb. 17, the moon will appear above the constellation Orion in the southern sky. Jupiter will also be glowing in the same area of the sky to the right of the moon.
The moon, Jupiter and Orion will glow together in the southern sky after sunset on Feb. 17, 2024. Image not to scale. (AccuWeather)
If cloudy weather prevails on Feb. 17, there will be additional opportunities to see the astronomical grouping on Sunday, Feb. 18, and Monday, Feb. 19, although the moon will appear farther and farther away from Orion and Jupiter with each passing night.
Feb. 24: 'Micromoon'
Supermoons have become viral sensations in recent years, but their smaller counterpart will glow in the sky near the end of the month.
As the moon orbits the Earth, there are times when it is closer to the planet, called perigee, and times when it is slightly farther away, known as apogee. February's full moon will coincide with the time when it is farther away from the planet, resulting in a "micromoon," which will appear about 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than a supermoon.
A supermoon (perigee moon) vs a micromoon (apogee moon). Image via NASA
February's full moon also has various nicknames, including the Snow Moon, the Bald Eagle Moon, the Bear Moon, the Hungry Moon and the Goose Moon.
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