Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - February 2022
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Monday, February 28th
Venus has reached its highest altitude in the morning sky. At sunrise the second
brightest object in the night sky will be 38 degrees above the horizon. The small
sliver of the Moon has relocated to an area of sky near Mercury and Saturn. Mercury
is the brighter object above Saturn.
Wednesday, March 2nd
A planetary pair can be seen about ten degrees above the eastern horizon this
morning. The separation between Mercury and Saturn is less than one half degree.
The planets may appear as one object unless binoculars are used for viewing.
The Moon is passing close to the Sun throughout the day. The New Moon and
Jupiter are both lost in the Sun’s glare. Look for the Moon to reappear in two days
as it transitions away from the Sun.
Thursday, March 3rd
The pi Virginids variable shower peaks tonight. Meteors can be seen from this
shower from February 13th to April 8th. The radiant breaks the eastern horizon at
1930h but the best time to catch a shooting star is after 2100h. Look straight
overhead from a dark location for the best viewing opportunity. There will not be any
interference from moonlight.
Tuesday, March 8th
The Moon has relocated close to the Seven Sisters. Generally six or seven stars can
be seen in the cluster of stars comprising Pleiades. A pair of binoculars will reveal
more stars. This could be a good time to identify some landmarks on the Moon.
Image 3 identifies the location of six Apollo landing sites (in yellow) and four of the
Moon’s seas.
Mare Nectaris - Sea of Nectar
Mare Fecunditatis – Sea of Fertility
Mare Crisium – Sea of Crisis
Mare Tranquillitatis - Sea of Tranquility
Tonight could be an opportunity to search for the “Lost Pleiad.” In addition to
Seven Sisters, the cluster of stars includes their parents, Atlas and Pleione. Can you
identify the missing Pleiad? Reasons for seeing fewer than seven Pleiads has been
historically associated with Merope, Electra or Celaeno. The mythical Electra was
considered missing because she veiled her face at the burning of Troy. Merope was
ostracized for marrying a mortal. Was the “Dark One,” Celaeno, absent after being
struck by a thunderbolt? Even the mother star Pleione was considered the Lost
Pleiad. Visually Pleione gets lost in the glare of the star Atlas.
Saturday, March 12th
Mars and Venus have appeared close since the beginning of February. This
morning the planets will reach their closest apparent position in the predawn sky.
Over the next few days Mars and Venus will move towards Saturn. The three planets
lie in the constellation Capricornus.
Sunday, March 13th
The Moon is about halfway between First Quarter and its Full Moon phase. Tonight
the Moon will make a close approach to Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation
Gemini. Pollux is located off the dark side of the Moon towards the northeast.
Monday, March 14th
Today is Pi Day. This evening the γ-Normid meteor shower reaches its peak. This
shower originating from an area near the constellation Norma (the carpenter’s
square) will be active from February 25th to March 28th. Meteors from this
shower will radiate out of the south. The best viewing will be after 0400h, after
the Moon sets.
Tuesday, March 15th
Yesterday the Moon passed through the constellation Cancer. Tonight it holds up
in Leo near the “Heart of the Lion.” Regulus is almost exactly on the ecliptic, the path
of the Sun. It will rise south of the Moon riding the ecliptic throughout the night.
In the News
Artemis 1 is the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems. The
spacecraft, though built for humans, will be unmanned. This will be the launching
of the most powerful rocket in the world. The preliminary launch date is March 12th,
2022. It will travel beyond the Moon, 280,000 miles from Earth.
* All times are given as Atlantic Standard Time (AST) unless otherwise noted. The
times are based on a viewing position in Grenada and may vary by only a few minutes
in different Caribbean locations.
Jim Ulik sails on S/V Merengue.
Above: The Moon meets the Seven Sisters in the constellation Taurus.
Below: Some Lunar landmarks identified on the night Pleiades meets the Moon.
IMAGE 2 IMAGE 3
FEBRUARY 2022 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 31
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