Welcome to a new and exciting column on the wonders of the night sky! Get set for an amazing journey into the wonders of Astronomy, Space, Aviation and Weather, with me, Dr.Sky, the good stuff of our websites; www.drsky.com; www.drsky.tv

Each month, you will find some useful and interesting informationon how to be a part of the amazing events that occur in our Arizona skies, right here in North Valley magazine. As a talk show host of both radio and TV, I hope to bring you the best of what is going on in our night skies; with some of the best skies in the world!

Let’s see what is in our February/March 2012 skies.

February, from the Latin “Februum”, literally means purification. The shortest month of the year, offers us a great view of the moon. The full moon of February is on the 7th. This full moon is also known as the full Snow Moon, rising in the NE sky at sunset, followed by Last Quarter on Valentines Day and then on to the Dark of the Moon, or New Moon, on the 21st. Look to the skies during the new moon period as the light of the Moon, will not hamper your views of the fainter objects, like the planets. In February, the planet Venus is still high in the SW at sunset and often mistaken as an aircraft or other type of “UFO”. Jupiter is high in the SW sky at sunset and is great in a small telescope.

Mars remains low in the E at sunset and will at its best in March, at opposition. Saturn rises in the SE near midnight. The month of March warms up Arizona and the skies are full of great sights to behold. If you would like to learn about all the great passages of man made satellites, just go to our site at www.drsky.com and click on the link in the Info Center, listed as Satellite Locator. Plug in your location, date and time and you will be amazed at dates and times to see the ISS space station and many of the 9,000 manmade objects in space. The moon is at first quarter on March 1st, the full moon for March, is on the 8th and is known as the Full Worm Moon. Last quarter on the 15th and the New Moon, on the 22nd. Venus and Jupiter are high in the SW at sunset, while Mars it at its best on the night of March 3rd , rising in the E at sunset.

Join us for our many Dr.Sky programs around Arizona and our monthly events at the beautiful Las Posadas Resort in Sedona and the monthly Dr.Sky” Cruise To The Cosmos” on the Dolly Steamboat.
Listen to us weekly on KTAR News Talk 92.3 for the Dr.Sky Show, 3AM Saturday mornings.
E- mail me at drsky@cox.net
Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Kates/100001527303378

“Always Remember To Keep You Eyes To The Skies”