Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine February 2017

ALL ASHORE…
FEBRUARY 2017 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 34
The Sky from
Mid-February
to Mid-March
by Jim Ulik
Those who fall in love with practice without science are like a
sailor who steers a ship without a helm or compass and can
never be certain whither he is going.
— Leonardo Da Vinci
How many times have you thought about
those objects orbiting Earth that provide reliable
data for GPS navigation? How about national
defense? Usually little attention is given to the
satellites that provide internet, television and
cell-phone service unless they aren’t performing
to expectations. And even then thoughts are
usually about the provider’s apparent lack of
ability to offer good service.
Are you looking for a good weather window to
make passage to the next island? I will bet that
little thought is given to the technology behind
the satellites that provide important weather
data. Even less attention is given to how the
weather data was analyzed and compiled, and
yet most people still trust the forecast.
What about the satellites that were placed
into orbit to observe Earth? Multiple countries
have launched satellites into space for this
purpose. Information received from hundreds
of instruments studying the Earth, aboard
hundreds of satellites circling the Earth, is
compiled and analyzed by thousands of scientists
employed by governments and privately
held corporations.
Where are all of these satellites? Can they be
seen from Earth? From a dark location you may
see a pinpoint of light making its way across the
sky above you, similar to the International Space
Station transiting. Other satellites maintain a
fixed position and may appear to just be another
dim star. Then we may catch the occasional
flash created from the Sun reflecting off the solar
panels of a satellite, called an iridium flare.
Yet, remote from our everyday life, these satellites
remain overhead performing their designed
tasks. See Figures 1 through 3.
Friday, February 17th
Even though Venus is only 26 percent illuminated,
it has reached its greatest brightness in
the western sky. That is because the goddess is
moving closer to the Sun. Venus will actually
reach its closest distance to the Sun on February
21st, but will only be 23 percent illuminated.
Saturday, February 18th
The Moon will be at last quarter. It will also be at the point in its orbit that is the
most distant from the Earth or apogee. The Moon will have less effect on the tides
because of the increase in distance.
Sunday, February 19th
Happy Birthday, Nicolas Copernicus! Born in 1473, Copernicus was the first modern
European scientist to propose that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun.
This was heresy in the 15th and 16th centuries, based on the Church’s opinion that
the Earth is the center of the universe. Copernicus was mostly spared criticism because
the results of his years of work on planetary motion weren’t published until 1543, the
year of his death. To this day, the concept that the planets revolve around the Sun still
remains held as a fact by most people — or, based on recent international surveys,
roughly 70 to 80 percent of the population. Surveys were taken by National Science
Foundation (NSF), Gallop and European Union poll (Eurobarometer).
Monday, February 20th
Beginning on February 20th, Saturn will be positioned near the Moon. Early this
morning a very bright Saturn will be below the Moon in the eastern sky. Tomorrow
morning you will find Saturn above (west) and right (south) of the Moon.
Thursday, February 23rd
Visualize the constellation art of Virgo. Throughout this period, Jupiter will sit on
the lap of Virgo near Spica. Both celestial objects are visible during the morning
hours. Jupiter reaches its closest apparent position to Spica on February 23rd.
Sunday, February 26th
The New Moon is at 1058. It is almost directly in line with the Sun. If you are in
South America, you will be able to see a solar eclipse.
As the Sun sets, Mars will begin to brighten. As Mars is so close to Uranus, the
two planets will appear to meld together. Both planets are swimming with the fish of
Pisces in the western sky just above Venus.
—Continued on next page
Satellites directly overhead at 2200 hours on February 16th