What’s Up in Denver? February 2nd through 8th, 2025

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

February 2:

Catch the waning gibbous Snow Moon near Regulus and the Sickle Asterism: look for the moon to add to the already bright alpha star In the constellation Leo at the tip of the backward question mark that is known as the Sickle asterism in the eastern skies around 8:00 PM. Earlier in the evening between 6:40 and 7:34 PM, the Moon will pass in front of Regulus, creating a lunar occultation.

February 3:

The waning gibbous Snow Moon reaches its Descending Node, as it moves from north of the ecliptic to south of it, crossing the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun at 1:16 PM
Uranus reaches the end of its retrograde motion, ending its westward movement through the constellations and returning to more usual eastward motion at 6:52 PM

February 4:

DAS Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – General & Beginner Meeting (virtual): Members only program via Zoom (check DAS email and Slack): 7:00 PM

February 5:

Standley Lake Weekly Livestream! (virtual): Free Online program via Zoom: 6:00PM

February 6 :

Catch the waning gibbous Snow Moon near Spica the bright alpha star in the constellation Virgo in the south eastern sky just before midnight

February 7:

Last Quarter Moon - Photo by Stephen Rahn — Photo by Stephen Rahn

Tonight is a great night for anyone doing the Astronomical League’s Lunar Observing Program. The following telescope targets will have great contrast over the next few nights and help you to get your certificate and pin:
- Mountains & Mountain Ranges
  - Mons Hadley — Isolated peak near Hadley Rille
  - Mons Pico — Prominent solitary mountain in Mare Imbrium
  - Mons Piton — Sharp peak on Mare Imbrium’s edge
  - Montes Alpes — Rugged mountain range north of Mare Imbrium
  - Montes Apenninus — Dramatic mountain chain bordering Mare Imbrium
- Plains, Lakes & Marshes
  - Lacus Mortis — “Lake of Death,” large lava-filled plain
  - Palus Putredinis — “Marsh of Decay,” smooth lava plain near Apennines
- Scarps & Rilles
  - Rima Hyginus — Straight volcanic rille with crater pits
  - Rupes Altai — Massive lunar escarpment in the southern highlands

February 8:

Io and its shadow transiting Jupiter. Photo by J. Spencer/Lowell Observatory/NASA/ESA

Watch the moon Europa and its shadow transit the face of Jupiter: Using high powered binoculars or a small telescope at the great gas giant high in the sky in the constellation Gemini, look for the smallest and least massive of its four Galilean moons to move across it’s face starting at 8:06 PM with it’s shadow following behind at 9:21 PM each transit should last approximately 2 hours.

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 in eastern Cancer: About 1 per hour
Comae Berenicids (COM): 5:00 AM in southern Coma Berenices: Less than 1 per hour
February η Draconids (FED): 7:00 AM in northern Draco: Less than 1 per hour
α Coronae Borealids (ACB): 7:00 AM in western Corona Borealis: Less than 1 per hour
α Antliids (AAN): 2:00 AM in southern Sextans: Less than 1 per hour
ο Hydrids (OHY): 4:00 AM in central Hydra: Less than 1 per hour