Mercury

Mercury is at superior conjunction with the Sun on 7th February. At the time of conjunction, the planet will be on the opposite side of the Sun, some 1.40 AU (209 million km or 131 million miles) distant from Earth.

During the last week of February, Mercury is visible as a very low down difficult evening star (mag –0.8), only a few degrees above the western horizon shortly after sunset. The view is better for northern hemisphere observers compared to their southern counterparts.

Venus

Venus is a brilliant evening object in Pisces, visible towards the west shortly after sunset. With an apparent magnitude of –4.1, it is unmistakable and by months end will set up to 4 hours after the Sun.

On the evening of 9th February, Venus and Uranus (mag. 5.9) will be less than half a degree apart. Later in the month (25th) a thin crescent Moon will pass 3 degrees north of Venus.

Mars

Mars is now moving in a westerly retrograde motion, beginning the month in Virgo before heading swiftly back into Leo. The red planet rises well before midnight and with an apparent magnitude of -1.0 is nearly as bright as Sirius. Telescopically, the apparent diameter of Mars is increasing nicely, from 11.8 arcseconds at the start of the month to 13.8 arcseconds at the end.

An almost full Moon will pass about 10 degrees south of Mars on 10th February. At the end of the month, Mars will be approx. 15 degrees from Regulus (mag. 1.35), the brightest star in Leo.

Jupiter

Jupiter is in Aries and still reasonably placed for observation as an evening object during February, although now well past opposition. The giant planet sets a little earlier each night as the month progresses. At the end of February it sets about 2 hours later than at the beginning of the month. During this time the apparent Jovian disk size shrinks from 39 to 36 arcseconds.

A crescent Moon will be a few degrees north of Jupiter on 27th February. The gap between Jupiter and Venus is continuing to close; at the end of February Jupiter is only 12 degrees north of Venus.

Saturn

Saturn is located in Virgo, about 7 degrees from bright star Spica (mag. 1.0). The rings are wide open and well situated for observation. Saturn is now moving towards opposition and at the start of the month rises about half way through the night. At the end of the month it appears an hour or two earlier.

On February 8th Saturn is stationary before proceeding westerly in retrograde motion. However, the position of Saturn will change little during the month; only about half a degree in relation to the fixed stars. The night of 12/13th February will see the Moon pass within a few degrees of both Saturn and Spica.

During February the apparent diameter of Saturn is a healthy 18 arcseconds.

Uranus

Uranus is located in Pisces and visible as an evening object, best seen during the first part of the month. However, it won't be long before the planet is lost to the evening twilight. A good time to look for this distant world is on the evening of 9th February when mag 5.9 Uranus is just half a degree south of Venus (mag. -4.0).

Neptune

Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun and not observable during the month.

Solar System Data Table - February 2012