Time to view two jewels in the sky

Two of the jewels of the night sky are in good location for viewing these February evenings. The first is the great Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the second in the same section of the sky is the Triangulum Galaxy (M33).

The Triangulum is also sometimes called the Pinwheel Galaxy, a name it shares with M101.

For viewing both of these objects a dark sky location is needed away from any outside illumination (that means city lighting). Also an unobstructed western horizon will be helpful.

Start by being outside by at least 7 p.m. MST looking west for the giant square of Pegasus although at this time of year it looks more like a large diamond standing on one corner.

If you have trouble locating Pegasus, the very slender two-day old moon is to the left and slightly below the square.

Locate the star Alpheratz, the star at the top of the diamond. Pegasus shares this star with the Andromeda constellation. From Alpheratz two strings of stars which make up the constellation extend upward toward the Perseus.

From Alpheratz count upward for two pairs of stars, draw a line between those stars and extend it to your right for about the same distance that is between the stars. That will put you at the Andromeda Galaxy.

If your location is very dark you should be able see Andromeda without any optical aid, it will look like a small, dim, fuzzy, cloudy patch. Binoculars will show a larger dim, fuzzy, cloudy patch, and a telescope will show a very large fuzzy, cloudy patch.

In any case, no matter what you use, it will not be possible to see the bright colors depicted in most photographs of the galaxy, it will be a simple shade of gray, or off-white.

Here is just a bit of information you might be able to work into conversation at your next party, Andromeda at 2.5 million light years is the farthest thing that can be seen with the human eye alone.

Now for the second jewel, go back to those two stars you used to locate Andromeda and draw a line going the opposite direction--to your left--until you find another fuzzy patch of light. This one will not be visible without optical aid.

This line will be a little farther than the one used to locate Andromeda.

This is the Triangulum Galaxy, so named because of its location just below the Triangulum constellation.

This would be a good time to start a monthly moon watch. Tonight the two-day old moon will be a good place to start. Each night be outside at about the same time and note how far the moon has moved, how much larger it is, and see if you can see Earthshine

Then follow the moon throughout the rest of the month. Toward the end of the month it will require some early morning and even some daytime viewing. Keep a log of what you observe.

SKY WATCH: New moon on February 8 (remember, new moon means no moon), tonight it is also at perigee, or closest to Earth for the month. Friday, Feb. 12, use the moon to help locate the planet Uranus, it will be about 6.5 degrees to the lower right--a little more than the width of binocular field of view, a telescope will be essential. On Monday, Feb. 15, the moon is near Aldebaran in Taurus. Last month the moon occulted--covered--Aldebaran, but this time it will just miss the star.

NEXT WEEK: Goodbye Orion, hello Leo, and more astronomical blathering.