Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W06

Week begins: Monday, February 3, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Feb 3, 2025♒ 16
Imbolc · Winter–Spring midpoint — 14:10:28 UTC
M35 — Telescope 5 — Northern Winter
Tue, Feb 4, 2025♒ 17
α Men — Binoculars 5 — Antarctic Winter
Wed, Feb 5, 2025♒ 18
🌓 First Quarter — 08:02:09 UTC
Finest NGC 29 / NGC 2194 · Collinder 87 — Telescope 10 — Tropical Winter
Thu, Feb 6, 2025♒ 19
Fri, Feb 7, 2025♒ 20
Mirzam (β CMa) — Naked eye 2 — Tropical Winter
Canopus (α Car) — Naked eye -1 — Southern Winter
Sat, Feb 8, 2025♒ 21
β Mon — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Winter
Sun, Feb 9, 2025♒ 22
Finest NGC 32 / NGC 2237 · Rosette / C49 / NGC 2237-2239 · Rosette Nebula — Telescope 6 — Tropical Winter
C50 / NGC 2244 — Telescope 5 — Tropical Winter

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins February 3, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♒︎ 14°24′
β −0°00′		♈︎ 13°38′
β +1°23′		♒︎ 9°44′
β −2°03′		♓︎ 29°00′
β +2°14′		♋︎ 19°54′
β +4°14′		♊︎ 11°17′
β −0°29′		♓︎ 17°39′
β −1°55′
ObservingNightNaked eye -8.9☉︎Naked eye -4.8Naked eye -1.0Naked eye -2.5Naked eye 1.1
Rise07:0409:1107:0508:3614:1911:5508:34
Set16:5622:1016:2220:5506:2303:0919:46

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♒︎ 21°46′
β −7°10′		♉︎ 23°16′
β −0°14′		♓︎ 28°02′
β −1°16′		♒︎ 2°07′
β −3°19′
Observing☉︎Binoculars 5.7Telescope 7.8☉︎
Rise08:0610:5608:5306:50
Set17:1201:3720:4215:37

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 04:13:26 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W06 runs from February 3 through February 9. Venus and Neptune are separated by about 1.0° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter is about 1.5° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus.

Naked eye: 🌓 First Quarter — 08:02:09 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Mirzam, Canopus as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Mirzam: The Bright Star of Canis Major — An illuminating guide to Mirzam, a luminous star in the constellation Canis Major.

Canopus: The Brightest Star of Carina Galaxy — An overview of Canopus, its role in astronomy, and its significance as a navigational star.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -8.9; direct motion; 24.5% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 19:47 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Feb 07 02:16 UTC. Conjunction with Uranus in ecliptic longitude Feb 05 19:10 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.1; direct motion; 99.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 12:08 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.8; direct motion; 36.6% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude -1.0; retrograde motion; 98.4% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 19:47 UTC. Ceres: In solar glare; magnitude 9.0; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.5; retrograde motion; 99.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Feb 04 09:40 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 07 02:16 UTC. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 1.1; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 05 19:10 UTC. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: In solar glare; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Mensa’s charted figure in the finder, then identify α Men at its charted position. Trace Monoceros’s charted figure in the finder, then identify β Mon at its charted position.

Alpha Men: A Bright Beacon in the Southern Sky — An overview of Alpha Men, a notable star in the constellation Men, highlighting its significance and characteristics.

Beta Monocerotis: A Triple Star in the Constellation Monocerotis — An overview of the distinctive triple star system known as Beta Monocerotis, highlighting its characteristics and significance in the night sky.

Small telescope: M35: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Collinder 87: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Rosette: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2244: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

M35: A Brilliant Gem in Gemini's Sky — An enduring open cluster that captivates stargazers with its youthful glow and intricate structure.

Exploring Collinder 87: A Distinguished Open Cluster in Orion — An overview of the characteristics and significance of Collinder 87 within the constellation Orion.

The Rosette Nebula: A Stellar Nursery in Monoceros — An enduring feature of the winter sky, this emission nebula offers a glimpse into star formation processes in our galaxy.

An Open Cluster in the Constellation Monoceros — Exploring the characteristics and significance of this celestial gathering within a prominent constellation.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:05; sets 16:22 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.1. The disk is 99.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 5.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.690° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.5° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 12:08 UTC. Mercury: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 1.5° below the horizon. Rises 08:36; sets 20:55 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.8. The disk is 36.6% illuminated (crescent). It is 44.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.762° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 12.1° away. Neptune is 3.6° away at the snapshot. Venus: 12.1° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 11.8° above the horizon. Rises 09:11; sets 22:10 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -8.9. The disk is 24.5% illuminated (waxing crescent). It is 59.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 14.303° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 19.1° away. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 19:47 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Feb 07 02:16 UTC. Conjunction with Uranus in ecliptic longitude Feb 05 19:10 UTC. Moon: 19.1° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 65.1° above the horizon. Rises 14:19; sets 06:23 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.0. The disk is 98.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 155.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.273° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 4.4° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 09 19:47 UTC. Mars: 4.4° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 60.4° above the horizon. Rises 11:55; sets 03:09 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.5. The disk is 99.2% illuminated (nearly full). It is 116.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.005° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 5.1° away. Station Feb 04 09:40 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 07 02:16 UTC. Jupiter: 5.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 13.6° below the horizon. Rises 08:34; sets 19:46 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.1. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 33.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.110° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 11.1° away. Saturn: 11.1° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 46.8° above the horizon. Rises 10:56; sets 01:37 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 98.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.003° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Menkar, 15.0° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 05 19:10 UTC. Uranus: 15.0° from Menkar in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 3.7° below the horizon. Rises 08:53; sets 20:42 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 43.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.029° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.7° away. Venus is 3.6° away at the snapshot. Neptune: 13.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:06; sets 17:12 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.0. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 10.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.392° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalsuud, 15.9° away. Ceres: 15.9° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:50; sets 15:37 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 12.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.032° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.2° away. Pluto: 8.2° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.