Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W09

Week begins: Monday, February 24, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Feb 24, 2025♓ 7
Finest NGC 31 / NGC 2392 · Clown Face / C39 / NGC 2392 · Clown Face Nebula — Telescope 9 — Tropical Winter
Tue, Feb 25, 2025♓ 8
Castor B (α Gem) — Naked eye 3 — Northern Winter — in the Milky Way
Wed, Feb 26, 2025♓ 9
M47 — Telescope 5 — Tropical Winter
Finest NGC 37 / NGC 2403 · MCG 11-10-7 / C7 / NGC 2403 — Telescope 9 — Northern Winter
C25 / NGC 2419 — Telescope 10 — Northern Winter
Thu, Feb 27, 2025♓ 10
Procyon (α CMi) — Naked eye 0 — Tropical Winter
α Mon — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Winter
M46 — Telescope 6 — Tropical Winter
Finest NGC 35 / NGC 2440 — Telescope 12 — Tropical Winter
Fri, Feb 28, 2025♓ 11
🌑 New Moon — 00:44:49 UTC
M93 — Telescope 6 — Southern Winter
Pollux (β Gem) — Naked eye 1 — Northern Winter — in the Milky Way
Sat, Mar 1, 2025♓ 12
Sun, Mar 2, 2025♓ 13
C71 / NGC 2477 — Telescope 6 — Southern Winter

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins February 24, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

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

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♓︎ 5°37′
β −0°00′		♑︎ 13°25′
β −5°03′		♓︎ 17°33′
β −0°44′		♈︎ 10°07′
β +5°50′		♋︎ 17°01′
β +3°42′		♊︎ 11°55′
β −0°25′		♓︎ 20°05′
β −1°55′
ObservingNightNaked eye -8.4☉︎Naked eye -4.8Naked eye -0.4Naked eye -2.3☉︎
Rise06:3404:3407:0507:1812:4510:3407:17
Set17:2612:2718:2620:3904:4701:5018:37

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♓︎ 0°01′
β −7°23′		♉︎ 23°31′
β −0°14′		♓︎ 28°43′
β −1°16′		♒︎ 2°45′
β −3°21′
Observing☉︎Binoculars 5.8Telescope 7.8TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise07:0409:3407:3205:30
Set16:3500:1619:2414:18

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 05:16:18 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W09 runs from February 24 through March 2. Jupiter is about 2.1° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus. Mercury and Saturn are separated by about 2.5° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 00:44:49 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Castor, Procyon, Pollux as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Castor: The Prominent Binary Star of Gemini — An enduring celestial landmark, Castor shines brightly in the constellation Gemini, captivating astronomers with its stellar characteristics and historical significance.

Procyon: The Bright Cornerstone of the Winter Sky — Discover the brilliance of Procyon, a principal star of the Winter Hexagon and Triangular asterisms, and a beacon in the constellation Canis Minor.

Pollux: The Bright Star of Gemini's Winter Circle — Discover the significance and characteristics of Pollux, a prominent star in the well-known Winter Hexagon asterism.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -8.4; direct motion; 19.6% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 00:44 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 04:18 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 03:25 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Feb 27 11:03 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 18:42 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 08:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 10:32 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.3; direct motion; 89.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 04:18 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 12:02 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 16:22 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.8; direct motion; 19.3% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Mar 02 00:36 UTC: turns retrograde. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 03:25 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude -0.4; retrograde motion; 94.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Feb 24 01:59 UTC: turns direct. Ceres: In solar glare; magnitude 9.0; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 27 11:03 UTC. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.3; direct motion; 99.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: In solar glare; magnitude 1.1; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 18:42 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 12:02 UTC. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. 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. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 08:05 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 16:22 UTC. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 10:32 UTC.

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

Alpha Mon: A Bright Beacon in the Monoceros Constellation — An enduring stellar fixture, Alpha Mon invites astronomers to explore its place amidst the stars of Monoceros.

Small telescope: Clown Face Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M47: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 11-10-7: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2419: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M46: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2440: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M93: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2477: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

The Clown Face Nebula: A Celestial Enigma in Gemini — An exploration of a striking planetary nebula whose distinctive appearance continues to captivate astronomers.

M47: A Bright Open Cluster in Puppis — Discover the luminous beauty and celestial significance of Messier 47, an accessible star cluster for amateur astronomers alike.

Exploring the Galaxy Candidate in Camelopardalis — A detailed overview of a nearby galaxy, highlighting its characteristics and significance in astronomy.

The Lyns Loop: A Globular Cluster in Perseus — An enduring jewel nestled in the constellation Lyn, offering astronomers a glimpse into the ancient past of our galaxy.

M46: The Open Cluster in Puppis — An enduring cosmic jewel, M46 offers a captivating glimpse into stellar congregation.

Unveiling the Pup’s Celestial Gem: The Planetary Nebula in the Constellation Pup — An exploration of a fascinating celestial object, highlighting its features and significance within the constellation Pup.

M93: A Sparkling Open Cluster in Puppis — An enduring celestial gem, M93 captivates stargazers with its youthful brilliance and stellar companions.

The Pup Cluster: A Promising Open Cluster in the Constellation of Puppis — An overview of Caldwell 71, a stellar gathering in the southern skies, highlighting its significance and observational features.

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 18:26 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.3. The disk is 89.1% illuminated (gibbous). It is 12.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.823° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 9.9° away. Saturn is 2.8° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 04:18 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 12:02 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 16:22 UTC. Mercury: 9.9° from Fumalsamakah 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 4.1° below the horizon. Rises 07:18; sets 20:39 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.8. The disk is 19.3% illuminated (crescent). It is 34.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.231° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alpheratz, 20.3° away. Station Mar 02 00:36 UTC: turns retrograde. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 03:25 UTC. Venus: 20.3° from Alpheratz 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 71.9° below the horizon. Rises 04:34; sets 12:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -8.4. The disk is 19.6% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 52.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 13.161° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 1.7° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 00:44 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 04:18 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 03:25 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Feb 27 11:03 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 18:42 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 08:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 10:32 UTC. Moon: 1.7° from Nunki 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 70.9° above the horizon. Rises 12:45; sets 04:47 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.4. The disk is 94.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 131.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.001° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 7.2° away. Station Feb 24 01:59 UTC: turns direct. Mars: 7.2° 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 48.6° above the horizon. Rises 10:34; sets 01:50 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.3. The disk is 99.1% illuminated (nearly full). It is 96.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.064° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 5.4° away. Jupiter: 5.4° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:17; sets 18:37 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.1. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 14.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.121° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 11.0° away. Mercury is 2.8° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 28 18:42 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 12:02 UTC. Saturn: 11.0° 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 33.0° above the horizon. Rises 09:34; sets 00:16 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 77.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.021° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Menkar, 15.1° away. Uranus: 15.1° 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 17.4° below the horizon. Rises 07:32; sets 19:24 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 23.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.035° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.2° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 01 08:05 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 02 16:22 UTC. Neptune: 14.2° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:04; sets 16:35 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.0. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 9.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.392° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fomalhaut, 14.3° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 27 11:03 UTC. Ceres: 14.3° from Fomalhaut in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 65.3° below the horizon. Rises 05:30; sets 14:18 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 33.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.028° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.1° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 25 10:32 UTC. Pluto: 8.1° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.