BOTSWANA SKY CALENDAR
NIGHT SKIES – February 2023
Introduction to Night Skies – Harold Hester – FEBRUARY 2023
January 2023
Moon
| Date | Time | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 07/01 | 01h07 | Full Moon |
| 15/01 | 04h10 | Last Quarter |
| 21/01 | 22h53 | New Moon |
| 28/01 | 17h18 | First Quarter |
Moon – Earth Relations
Perigee: 356 569 km on 21/01 at 22h56
Apogee: 406 458 km on 08/01 at 11h19
Planet Visibility
Mercury is visible for part of the month near the stars of the constellation Sagittarius
Venus is visible near the stars of the constellation Capricornus
Mars is visible near the stars of the constellation Taurus
Jupiter is visible near the stars of the constellation Pisces
Saturn is visible near the stars of the constellation Capricornus
Some easy to identify bright stars
Rigel: blue supergiant in Orion
Betelgeuse: red supergiant in Orion
Procyon: yellowish white star in Canis Minor
Sirius: brightest star in the night sky, located in Canis Major
Antares: red supergiant in Scorpius
Arcturus: red giant in Boötes
Spica: brightest bluish-white star in Virgo
Canopus: yellowish-white star in Carina
Altair: a white star, brightest in Aquila
Regulus: blue–white star and the brightest star in Leo
The Pointers: Alpha and Beta Centauri