While Mars may be hard to find (first magnitude, dim), the Red
Planet dances near Mercury. On Friday, Mercury hangs just above
Mars. The young, razor-thin sliver of moon joins Mercury and
Mars the evening of Feb. 11, if you have a clear view of the
lower, western sky. By late February, the fleet planet falls out
of view into the sun’s light. At dusk now, Jupiter pops out in
the evening heavens very high in the southern sky. You could say
it’s almost overhead. Spot the gassy giant planet easily at
negative 2.4 magnitude (bright), loitering between the Hyades
and the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus. It now sets around
2:30 a.m. in the Washington skies, and will set around 1:20 a.m.
at the end of February. Catch the moon dash across the sky for a
close encounter with Jupiter: On Feb. 14, the young moon —
though distant in the sky from Jupiter — begins its approach. By
the next night, the moon is chubbier and a little closer. By
Feb. 17, our lunar companion (magnitude negative 10.2, very
bright) embraces Jup