Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday February 2nd through Sunday February 8th.

The moon was full late on Sunday the 1st and will reach last quarter early on Monday the 9th, so we’ll have a waning gibbous moon all of this week.

Venus is emerging from solar conjunction, so it is still setting only half an hour after the sun this week.

Mercury is also emerging from conjunction but is moving away from the sun quicker than its inner planet sibling. Mercury will be setting an hour after the sun by the end of the week.

Saturn is up in the west-southwest at sundown and is setting at 9:25 p.m. at midweek.

Jupiter is high in the east as the sky darkens after sunset and is setting at 5:40 a.m.

In the morning skies, like Venus and Mercury, Mars is also emerging from behind the sun after solar conjunction and is rising just 15 minutes before sunrise.

In space anniversaries this week, Tuesday February 3rd marks 60 years since the Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft became the first human-made object to soft-land on and return images from another body in our solar system, in this case, the Moon. Luna 9 operated on the lunar surface for three days before contact was lost.

Public viewing at the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. PMA is located on the southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway. Take the elevator to the 17th floor and follow the signs to the telescope.

Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe and is northeast of the UT Tower. Take the elevator to the 5th floor then take the stairs up to the 6th floor and follow the signs up to the telescope.

All events are free and open to all ages, and no reservations are required. Note that viewing times and availability change throughout the year so please check the schedule before planning a visit. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 512-232-4265 for star party status information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start times.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.