What can you expect to see at the Community Observatory this weekend?

We’re heading into another weekend that could be promising for stargazing — but weather looks like the wildcard once again.  

 Weather Outlook 

 We could have clear skies this Friday and Saturday. The weather forecasts that we monitor are not agreeing with each other and the weather this week has been volatile. As always with mid-February in the Sierra foothills, conditions can shift quickly, so please check communityobservatory.com before you head up the hill. We typically wait until around 3 PM on the day of the event to announce closures if clouds or rain make observing impractical. 

Shape What’s in the sky? 

 Moon Phase: This weekend is still close to the new moon window, which generally makes for excellent observing conditions when the sky is clear — minimal moonlight means better contrast on faint objects. 

Planets 

You may see some of the brighter planets after sunset: 

  • Jupiter will be well-placed high in the evening sky and bright through binoculars or telescope. 
  • Venus and Mercury continue to crown the western horizon after sunset, but they’ll be quite low and tricky to spot — so you will need a clear view toward the west shortly after sunset. Nevertheless, this weekend may be the best time to see the elusive Mercury.
  • Saturn and Neptune are also low and ideally observed early in the evening if conditions cooperate. 

While you may have seen social media hype about a “planetary parade,” the reality is that only a couple of planets will be reasonably visible above the horizon early in the evening, and only Jupiter will be prominent enough to easily see in telescope eyepieces. 

Shape Deep Sky Favorites 

 Even on marginal nights, when the sky isn’t pristine, there are still objects worth hunting: 

  • Orion Nebula (M42) – if the clouds thin at the right moment, this bright nebula is a crowd favorite. 
  • Pleiades and Hyades clusters – lovely open clusters that show up well even with some light haze. 
  • Rosette Nebula – pictured in last week’s post and visible in larger scopes when transparency is decent. 

Winter skies in February are rich with nebulae, clusters, and bright star fields. If the clouds cooperate, ask your docent to show you NGC 2174, the Monkey Head Nebula near the Orion Complex, as shown in this blog. 

 In Summary 

 Friday & Saturday evenings may be cloudy with only occasional breaks. We’re hoping for enough openings in the sky to get telescopes trained on something good, but definite clear skies aren’t guaranteed. 

  • Check updates on communityobservatory.com after 3 PM on each day before deciding to drive up. 
  • Bring warm layers — February nights can be brisk even when not stormy. 
Here’s hoping for at least a few clear patches so you can enjoy some wonderful celestial sights with us. 

(Thank you Wayne Lord for this week's blog.) 

 

 

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