Derekscope

Snow Moon

• It will be in the constellation Cancer and is traditionally called the Snow Moon, reflecting the deep winter season.
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• The Moon will be high in the sky by late evening, making it excellent for outreach events or astrophotography.
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• Its position in Cancer places it near the Beehive Cluster (Messier 44), which could be a beautiful pairing for binocular or telescope viewing.
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• Traditional Full Moon Names and their Meanings
  – Full Moon names reflect seasonal changes and natural rhythms observed by early cultures, particularly those influenced by UK colonial traditions and Native American heritage.
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  – Learn more about traditional Full Moon Names and their Meanings ~ Read more.
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• The Moon will appear in line with Pollux and Castor, the twin stars of Gemini in an early evening at 17:30 / 5.30pm.
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• Best viewing is in the early evening to midnight, when Gemini is high in the southeast sky.
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• Your guide to the night sky this month, and a guide for binoculars, and telescope deaf owners, compiled by Derek Rowley.
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• Click the blue link below for more information;

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Astronomy Highlights for February 2026

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• At 7:30 pm, Jupiter shines just 4° above the Moon, the two sharing a straight path across the night sky.
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Algol Minima

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• The bright variable star Beta Persei (Algol) will reach its minimum brightness at 01:03 / 1.03 am in the early morning on Friday 30th January and will be visible from the UK.
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• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol – read more.
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• The Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at 21:44 / 9.44pm today.
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• Already quite large and bright in the constellation Taurus , as it’s approaching full phase and perigee.
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• The Moon will occult the Seven Sisters (Pleiades / M45).
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• This is a striking event where the Moon passes directly in front of the cluster, causing its stars to disappear one by one behind the lunar limb.
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• Disappearances happen at the Moon’s dark limb, making them easier to spot with binoculars or a telescope.
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Algol Minima

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• The bright variable star Beta Persei (Algol) will reach its minimum brightness at 04:14 / 4.14 am in the early morning on Tuesday 27th January and will be visible from the UK.
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• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol – read more.
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• The Moon reaches its First Quarter phase at 12:44pm, with 50% illumination in the constellation Taurus (The Bull).
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• The Moon is waxing again, heading toward the next Full Moon on Sunday 1st February 2026.
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• The crescent Moon meets Saturn in the evening sky.
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• At around the same time, the two objects will also make a close approach, technically called an appulse.
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• Appulse
  This meaning two bodies appear very near each other in the sky – usually the planets or the Moon – appear close to one another in the sky.
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