Tonight – February 21, 2018 – use the waxing crescent moon to find the relatively faint constellation Aries the Ram. The moon is riding along the southern border of this constellation tonight, so seek for the major stars of Aries to the north or (right) of tonight’s moon. The only prominent part of this constellation consists of the three stars that make up of the head of Aries. In their order of brightness, the stars outlining the Ram’s head are Hamal, Sheratan and Mesarthim.
The Ram’s hindquarters are marked by the star 41 Arietis, which is almost – but not quite – on line with the Ram’s two brightest stars, Hamal and Sheratan. The Ram is often portrayed as looking over his shoulder, admiring the Pleiades star cluster or perhaps his own Golden Fleece.
Sky chart of the constellation Aries the Ram
Sky chart via IAU. The moon on the night of February 21, 2018, is skimming along the southern border of the constellation Aries and the northern border of the constellation Cetus the Sea Monster.
The ecliptic on the above chart depicts the pathway of the sun in front of the constellations of the zodiac. Yearly, from about April 18 to May 13, the sun passes in front of Aries the Ram, at which time of year Aries is lost in the light of the sun.
The moon, on the other hand, is always found in the vicinity of the ecliptic – but not necessarily on the ecliptic – when it makes its monthly travels through the constellation Aries. Depending on the year and month, the moon can swing anywhere from 5o (10 moon diameters) north to 5o (10 moon diameters) south of the ecliptic when traveling though Aries (or any constellation of the zodiac). Tonight, on February 21, 2018, the moon goes farthest south of the ecliptic for this month as it passes through the constellation Aries.
Aries the Ram. Image credit: Old Book Art image Gallery
Click here and then scroll down to Moon Ecliptic Latitude to know how far north or south the moon is from the ecliptic at present or for any chosen date. Remember, a positive number means north of the ecliptic while a negative number means south of the ecliptic.
Click here to see a pictorial display of the moon’s position in front of the zodiac and relative to the ecliptic for right now or any given date.
Bottom line: Tonight – February 21, 2018 – watch the waxing crescent moon light up the evening sky as it dances along the southern boundary of the constellation Aries the Ram.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2EGZP9X
Tonight – February 21, 2018 – use the waxing crescent moon to find the relatively faint constellation Aries the Ram. The moon is riding along the southern border of this constellation tonight, so seek for the major stars of Aries to the north or (right) of tonight’s moon. The only prominent part of this constellation consists of the three stars that make up of the head of Aries. In their order of brightness, the stars outlining the Ram’s head are Hamal, Sheratan and Mesarthim.
The Ram’s hindquarters are marked by the star 41 Arietis, which is almost – but not quite – on line with the Ram’s two brightest stars, Hamal and Sheratan. The Ram is often portrayed as looking over his shoulder, admiring the Pleiades star cluster or perhaps his own Golden Fleece.
Sky chart of the constellation Aries the Ram
Sky chart via IAU. The moon on the night of February 21, 2018, is skimming along the southern border of the constellation Aries and the northern border of the constellation Cetus the Sea Monster.
The ecliptic on the above chart depicts the pathway of the sun in front of the constellations of the zodiac. Yearly, from about April 18 to May 13, the sun passes in front of Aries the Ram, at which time of year Aries is lost in the light of the sun.
The moon, on the other hand, is always found in the vicinity of the ecliptic – but not necessarily on the ecliptic – when it makes its monthly travels through the constellation Aries. Depending on the year and month, the moon can swing anywhere from 5o (10 moon diameters) north to 5o (10 moon diameters) south of the ecliptic when traveling though Aries (or any constellation of the zodiac). Tonight, on February 21, 2018, the moon goes farthest south of the ecliptic for this month as it passes through the constellation Aries.
Aries the Ram. Image credit: Old Book Art image Gallery
Click here and then scroll down to Moon Ecliptic Latitude to know how far north or south the moon is from the ecliptic at present or for any chosen date. Remember, a positive number means north of the ecliptic while a negative number means south of the ecliptic.
Click here to see a pictorial display of the moon’s position in front of the zodiac and relative to the ecliptic for right now or any given date.
Bottom line: Tonight – February 21, 2018 – watch the waxing crescent moon light up the evening sky as it dances along the southern boundary of the constellation Aries the Ram.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2EGZP9X
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