February 2019: Mercury's superb show.(SKY THIS MONTH)

• Published in: Astronomy (Milwaukee) Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 36 - 43
• Main Authors: Ratcliffe, Martin, Ling, Alister
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chattanooga Kalmbach Publishing Company 01.02.2019; Firecrown
• Subjects: Jupiter; Jupiter satellites; Luminosity (Astronomy); Lunar evolution; Lunar phases; Mars; Mercury; Mercury (Planet); Moon; Observations; Pattern recognition; Saturn; Solar system; Telescopes; Venus; Visibility; United States
• ISSN: 0091-6358; 2163-0127

First find the 4th-magnitude stars Phi (φ) and Lambda (λ) Aquarii. The waning crescent Moon then stands midway between Jupiter and Saturn with Venus to their lower left. RISING MOON X marks the spot On the evening of February 11, observers across North America are placed perfectly to watch a few points of light on the Moon evolve into a prominent letter X. Although it's just a chance alignment of light and shadow as the Sun rises over some crater walls, it's fun to see because it tickles our pattern-recognition fancy. Herculina has a high number simply out of bad luck. Because its orbit inclines modestly to the solar system's plane, it often reaches peak visibility outside of what were the major search areas for asteroids as the field was ramping up in the latter half of the 19th century.