Exciting February sky events include Venus at its brightest and closest to Earth, the moon occulting the Pleiades, and a parade of planets in the post-sunset sky.
Just east of Betelgeuse is the fine binocular cluster NGC 2244. But the much fainter Rosette Nebula that lies around the cluster shows up nicely in this fine photo of it by EAAA member James Schultz.
As it grows, it is known as a waxingmoon, and gradually increases from a waxing "crescent" (for its shape into the first quarter moon. As it continues to brighten, it takes on an oblong ...