What’s Up in Denver? February 17th through 23rd, 2025

Name: Last Quarter Moon
Start: 2025-02-20
End: 2025-02-20

by Editor on February 16, 2025 with No Comments

Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.

February 17:

Moon near Spica - Created with Stellarium — Moon near Spica – Created with Stellarium

Look for the waning gibbous Moon near Spica in Virgo low in the southeastern sky around midnight MST.

February 18:

Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – General Meeting for DAS Members: 7:00 PM (more info).
Moon at Apogee (furthest point from Earth at 404,881 kilometers):1:12 AM MST

February 19:

© 2025 Astronomical League | astroleague.org

Although the “evening star” is in its crescent phase, late February is a great time to observe the Venus in the western skies after sunset with either binoculars or a telescope. If you’re using a reflector or catadioptric telescope, trying using an aperture reducing mask for sharper views.
Venus at Perihelion (its closest point to the Sun at 107,479,189 kilometers): 11:00 AM MST

February 20:

Standley Lake Virtual Astronomy Program: Mariner & Magellan: 6:00 PM MST (more info).
Last Quarter Snow Moon: 10:32 AM MST

February 21:

Moon with Antares and Paikauhale - created with Stellarium — Moon with Antares and Paikauhale – created with Stellarium

Look for the waning crescent Moon south of Antares (α Scorpii – the red supergiant, who’s name means the rival of Mars) and right next to Paikauhale (τ Scorpii – a bright, blue B-type main-sequence star) to the southeast in Scorpius around 4:00 AM MST.

February 22:

Standley Lake Indoor Astronomy Program: 6:30 PM at the Majestic View Nature Center (more info – registration required)
DAS New Member’s Orientation (rescheduled from January): 7:00 PM at Chamberlain Observatory (more info)

February 23:

Jupiter and Uranus framing the Pleiades and the Hyades - created with Stellarium — Jupiter and Uranus framing the Pleiades and the Hyades – created with Stellarium

Look for the gas giant Jupiter and the ice giant Uranus (with a telescope) on either side of the two open star clusters in Taurus, the Pleiades (Messier 45) and the Hyades (Caldwell 41) high in the southwestern sky around 7:00 PM.

This Week’s Meteoric Activity:

You can keep track of the activity of meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal.

Anthelion (ANT): 1:00 AM local time in central Cancer: 3 per hour
Alpha Centaurids (ACE):5:00 AM local time in southeastern Centaurus: less than 1 per hour

Clear skies and happy stargazing!