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Sydney Observatory night sky map

A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky

February 2013
www.sydneyobservatory.com.au

This star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide for February 2013 at about 8.30pm (summer time) and at about 7.30pm (local standard time) for Perth and Brisbane. For Darwin and similar locations the chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown. To use this star chart, rotate it so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the point directly above your head, called the zenith point, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.

Star Brightness
Zero or brighter 1st magnitude 2nd 3rd 4th
LYNX

Moon Phase
Last quarter: New Moon: First quarter: Full Moon:
PERSEUS

Capella

Pleiades
Pollux GEMINI

TRIANGULUM

Jupiter Hyades
TAURUS Aldebaran

M44
CANCER

Moon on 18 February
ARIES

Betelgeuse CANIS MINOR Regulus Procyon ORION PISCES

Orion (the Hunter) MONOCEROS HYDRA Canis Major (the Great Dog)
Sirius

M42
Rigel ERIDANUS LEPUS CETUS

Sirius

CANIS MAJOR SEXTANS Adhara COLUMBA CAELUM PYXIS PUPPIS PICTOR Canopus FORNAX

Mercury on 15 February

NW

Gemini (the Twins)

AURIGA

P
ERIDANUS
SCULPTOR HOROLOGIUM PHOENIX Achernar AQUARIUS

HYDRA

CRATER

ANTLIA VELA CARINA VOLANS

RETICULUM DORADO

Mars on 15 February

LMC
HYDRUS MENSA TUCANA GRUS PISCIS AUSTRINUS

FALSE CROSS

SMC
SOUTHERN CROSS
CHAMAELEON

South Celestial Pole


OCTANS

CRUX

MUSCA INDUS Mimosa MICROSCOPIUM PAVO Hadar TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE Alpha Centauri CIRCINUS

Chart Key

POINTERS

APUS

Bright star CENTAURUS Faint star Ecliptic Milky Way P Planet LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud SMC or Small Magellanic Cloud

SW

TELESCOPIUM

NORMA

South

ARA

In the north is Jupiter, visible as a bright star-like object in Taurus. At 9pm on the 18th, Jupiter is located next to the 1st quarter Moon. The best time to view the Moon using binoculars or a small telescope is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon. Visible in the sky are the constellations Canis Major (the Great Dog), Orion (the Hunter) and Gemini (the Twins). Crux (the Southern Cross) remains low in the south-east.

2013 Australasian sky guide book


The 2013 Australasian sky guide has details on the sky for the whole year, including rise and set times for the Sun, Moon and planets, and tidal information for Sydney. Available from Sydney Observatory, the Powerhouse Museum and good bookshops (RRP $16.95); also via mail order (postal charges apply) at www.powerhousemuseum.com/publications/

Visit Sydney Observatory


Sydney Observatory overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to 5pm daily except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to noon on New Years Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night telescope sessions (planetarium session if cloudy), and 3D movies about the Universe. Bookings essential for night programs. Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks www.sydneyobservatory.com.au Ph (02) 9921 3485

Sydney Observatory is part of the Powerhouse Museum. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using the software TheSky. 2013 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.

West

North

04th 10th 18th 26th

E N

ANDROMEDA

East

SE

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