Derekscope

• Mercury reaches its highest altitude in the evening sky.
  o
• This makes tonight one of the best evenings for UK observers to catch Mercury in twilight.
  o
• Just after sunset, look west – Mercury will be at its easiest to spot for this apparition, low in the western sky.
  o
• BSL Version

o

• Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn – both will be relatively low in the sky, so clear horizon to the west will help.
  o
• Binoculars will enhance the view, but Saturn’s rings won’t be visible without a telescope.
  o

• A 3‑day crescent next to Saturn makes a lovely, gentle pairing – a conjunction.
  o
• They’re low in the west (Clear horizon, binocular recommended.)
  o

• Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation today, appearing 18° east of the Sun in the evening sky.
  o
• This will be the best evening apparition of Mercury for the Northern Hemisphere in 2026.
  o

• Both planets will be visible low in the western sky after sunset.
  o
• Venus will shine brilliantly as the “Evening Star,” while Mercury will be fainter but still noticeable nearby.
  o
• Mercury lower down, and the crescent Moon between them – a perfect outreach opportunity.
  o
• Use binoculars to help after the sky fades.
  o
• BSL Version

oooo

• Annual Solar Eclipse today
  Not visible from the UK but worth saving the date in August this year.
  o
• Although today’s annual solar eclipse can’t be seen from Britain, our next UK visible solar eclipse is on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
  o
• It will be a large partial eclipse across the UK, with the Sun taking a dramatic bite in the evening.
  o
• BSL Version

oooo

• A vertical straight‑line alignment occurs when three of the Galilean moons — usually Io, Europa, Ganymede, or Callisto — appear in a single straight line.
  o

• Callisto and Europa both produce visible shadow transits.
  o

• The Moon will indeed appear close to Antares in the early morning of 11th February.
  o
• Antares is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, a red supergiant often called the “heart of the scorpion.”
  o

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
  o
• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
  o