Sun, Moon, and Stars: February 2001

Movement of the heavenly bodies: February 2001

Moon Phase	Day	Phenomenon	Hour (UT)	Hour (EST)
	1	FIRST QUARTER	1400	9 am
	2	Saturn is 2 degrees north of the Moon.	1000	5 am
	2	Jupiter is 3 degrees north of the Moon.	2200	5 pm
	3	Mercury appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent direct motion changes to backward, or retrograde, motion.	1200	7 am
	7	The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.	2200	5 pm
	8	FULL MOON	0700	2 am
	9	Uranus is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Uranus and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun.	1200	7 am
	13	Mercury is in inferior conjunction, that is, the Sun and the Earth are aligned on opposite sides of Mercury	0000	7 pm (Feb. 12)
	15	LAST QUARTER	0300	10 pm (Feb. 14)
	15	Mars is 3 degrees south of the Moon.	1000	5 am
	18	Ceres, the largest asteroid, is 0 degrees 5 minutes south of the Moon. The asteroid is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon.	0700	2 am
	20	The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit.	2200	5 pm
	20	Neptune is 2 degrees north of the Moon.	2300	6 pm
	21	Mercury is 6 degrees north of the Moon.	1600	11 am
	22	Venus is at its greatest brilliancy.	0100	8 pm (Feb. 21)
	23	NEW MOON	0800	3 am
	24	The asteroid Juno is 0 degrees 2 minutes south of the Moon. The asteroid is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon.	1900	2 pm
	25	Mercury appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent backward, or retrograde, motion changes back to direct motion.	0200	9 pm (Feb. 24)
	25	The asteroid Juno is 1 degree north of the Moon. The asteroid is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon.	1700	12 noon
	26	Venus is 11 degrees north of the Moon.	0800	3 am

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