Okanagan Observatory

Sat. Feb. 6 - Now in waning crescent guise, Luna will cozy up to the warm glow of bright Antares when they rise low in the southeast sky before dawn. Less than the width of three fingers held at arm’s length will separate them.

Thurs. Feb. 4 - This is last quarter Moon night when the striking reverse half lit sphere rises after midnight to add beauty to early morning Okanagan scenes. While they will still be wintery scenes, spring really is just around the corner.

For tomorrow, Wed. Feb. 3 - Before dawn arrives this morning, Luna, in almost last quarter phase, will appear close to the bright spring star Spica. While alpha Virgo appears as just a bright blue-white star to us, at home about 250 light years away it would be quite a spectacle two large suns which orbit each other so closely that their mutual gravity distorts them into an egg shape. They orbit each other in only four days.

Mon. Feb. 1 - The spring window to observe the Zodiacal light is opening up. Under dark sky conditions, look for a pyramid of faint, hazy light stretching up from the western horizon after nightfall. You will be looking at light being scattered by the leftover dust in the Sun's equatorial plane.

Fri. Jan. 29 - Tonight the just past full Moon will check out the reverse question mark to see how things are coming along as this constellation prepares to come on stage as the leading spring constellation.